How much does it cost to become an Austrian citizen?

Becoming an Austrian citizen is not cheap or easy, but it is possible and results in becoming a citizen of an EU country with a high standard of living.

Austrian citizenship, or naturalisation, is one of the least applied for in the EU. This is put down to strict eligibility requirements on the length of time spent in the country and, in most cases, renouncing original citizenship.

It doesn’t mean becoming an Austrian citizen is impossible though and last year more than 10,000 people went through the process of naturalisation in Austria.

How much does it cost to become an Austrian citizen? 

The cost of becoming an Austrian citizen can vary depending on the citizenship route. 

As a guide, the cost of the application is around €130 and the fee for granting citizenship is typically between €1,100 and €1,500. 

However, this does not include other costs, such as fees for the translation of official documents and taking the German language test.

Also, it is important to remember that you have to pay the costs regardless of whether your application is approved or rejected - so please try and make sure all your paperwork is in order before you apply. 

We’ve prepared this handy guide with more information for you. 

READ MORE: What you need to know about applying for Austrian citizenship

What are the specific costs? 

As we said above, costs can vary widely and it will largely depend on the specific route you take towards citizenship. 

The City of Vienna has broken down the expected costs in an itemised format at the following link. 

While this is not a complete and exhaustive list, it does summarise what you can expect to pay in different circumstances of ‘acquiring’ Austrian citizenship. 

To retain your Austrian citizenship, the application costs €14.30. If it is successful, you’ll need to pay between €100 and 200 to actually retain your Austrian citizenship. 

To extend your Austrian citizenship, adults will pay €950 while children will pay €330. 

But it is not only attaining, extending or retaining your citizenship which is likely to cost you. 

You’ll also need to spend money to waive your citizenship: approximately €25. 

Not sure if you are an Austrian citizen and want to find out? You’ll be charged €50 just to check the register to see if you are or if you aren’t (and you’ll need to pay the money either way). 

Need documentary proof that you’re an Austrian citizen? That’s going to set you back €45.  

What about other ways of obtaining Austrian citizenship? 

There are some other relatively rare categories of obtaining Austrian citizenship. 

If you have done a lot for the country, you may receive honorary Austrian citizenship for “extraordinary achievements in the interest of the Republic of Austria”. 

What do you have to pay for this honour? A cool €1,600. 

Then there’s acquiring Austrian citizenship for people who were persecuted during the Nazi regime and needed to flee the country. 

This will cost you a nominal fee of €7. 

What other costs are there? 

There are a range of other costs which you may be required to pay in order to become an Austrian citizen. 

The cost of the passport itself is not included in the above amounts. 

For instance, you will need to pay for a German course to ensure your Deutsch is up to standard. The cost of this can vary widely. 

You’ll also need to take a test to prove your German - again, the cost of which can vary widely. 

Finally you may need to have certain documents notarised or witnessed, all of which can cost you money.  

How can I pay? 

While cash remains king in Austria, fortunately you can pay with card - or with cash - when procuring your citizenship. 

This includes debit cards and most commonly accepted credit cards.