Austrian Citizenship Reform Under Discussion
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Austrian Citizenship Reform Under Discussion
- Austria granted citizenship to 13,700 people in the first half of 2026, marking a 17% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.
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Discussions within the Austrian governing coalition, consisting of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), and NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS), have signaled potential changes to citizenship law, including raising the German language requirement to B2 level.
The Austrian government is currently discussing reforms to its citizenship law, with proposals aiming to both tighten language requirements and potentially ease some financial hurdles. The coalition government’s program for 2025 to 2029 includes significant changes, notably an increase in the German language proficiency requirement for naturalization from B1 to B2 level. Additionally, a mandatory citizenship course, focusing on democratic understanding, European values, and gender equality, developed by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), is expected to become a prerequisite for citizenship.
While language requirements are set to become stricter, there are also discussions about reducing financial barriers. NEOS club chairman Yannick Shetty indicated a desire to abolish the high income barrier, stating that citizenship should depend on a willingness to be part of society rather than a specific net income. Currently, applicants need to demonstrate a secure livelihood, which involves a specific net income for individuals and couples, with additional amounts for each child.
These proposed changes come as Austria has seen a notable increase in naturalizations. In the first half of 2026, 13,700 people were granted Austrian citizenship, a 17% rise compared to the same period in 2025. The majority of these new citizens, 9,750, were residing in Austria, marking a 34% increase in naturalizations for residents. A significant portion of these naturalizations were based on long-term residence, proven German language skills, and successful integration. The largest groups of new citizens residing in Austria previously held citizenship from Syria, Türkiye, and Afghanistan.
The legislative amendments for the reform are anticipated in the first half of 2026, with parliamentary approval and passage through the Federal Council potentially occurring in the latter half of 2026.