Minimum cost
$500
application fee
Timeline
730-1095 days
processing
Visa-free access
185
passport rank #4
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Path to citizenship
- Apply730-1095 days
- Citizenshipgranted
Overview
- Country
- Austria
- Program
- Austria Citizenship by Exceptional Merit
- Local name
- Staatsbürgerschaft durch außerordentliche Leistungen
- Type
- Exceptional Merit
- Status
- Active
- Processing time
- 730-1095 days
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 185 destinations
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
Austria can grant citizenship without prior residence in cases of extraordinary merit in the interests of the Republic. The route is discretionary and is not a priced investment citizenship program. Economic contributions may support a merit case, but passive investments and fixed-price donations do not create an entitlement.
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $500
Eligibility and requirements
- Minimum age 18+
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Interview required
- Authorized agent must use authorized agent
- Oath required
Family
- Dependents
- Allowed
- Spouse
- Included
- Spouse eligible
- Spouse of eligible person also qualifies
- Max child age
- 18
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #4 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 185 countries
- Passport validity
- 10 years
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
Physical presence
- Must visit country
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- In person
- Apply from abroad
- Yes
- Application type
- Discretionary
- Official website
- www.oesterreich.gv.at
- Legal basis
- Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (StbG) Art. 10(6)
Notes and caveats
No ordinary residence requirement when citizenship is granted for extraordinary merit under StbG Art. 10(6). This is discretionary and nomination-like, not a fixed-price CBI product. Official materials do not publish investment thresholds, quotas, processing fees, or due diligence fee schedules. Allows retention of existing citizenship(s) when granted under the extraordinary-merit route.