Since Brexit, a record number of British nationals have become Austrian citizens, with applications skyrocketing after the UK officially left the EU on January 31st, 2020.
The shift shows how Brexit has changed things for UK nationals living in Austria, pushing many to secure their future by becoming Austrian.
Before Brexit, very few Brits applied for Austrian citizenship - only 4 to 44 people per year from 2013 to 2018, according to data from the Austrian Interior Ministry. That changed in 2019 when 96 UK nationals became Austrian citizens. But the real surge came after Brexit took effect: 125 naturalisations in 2020, then a massive jump to 1,190 in 2021.
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The numbers remained high, with 1,593 British nationals gaining Austrian citizenship in 2022, followed by 1,123 in 2023 and 938 in 2024.
Even though the numbers have dropped slightly in recent years, they’re still far higher than before Brexit, showing that many Brits are choosing Austrian citizenship for security and stability.
Why are more Brits becoming Austrian?
The biggest reason may be Brexit itself (but not only that).
Before, UK nationals had the right to live and work in Austria and across the EU without restrictions. But when the UK left, those automatic rights disappeared.
Many British residents in Austria applied for the special Article 50 TEU residence permit, which allowed them to stay under the Withdrawal Agreement. However, for those who arrived after December 31st, 2020, the process became more complicated, with stricter visa and work permit requirements.
Another major factor is Austria’s citizenship law for descendants of Nazi persecution victims.
Since 2019, people with Austrian Jewish ancestry have been able to reclaim Austrian citizenship without giving up their British passport. According to Statistik Austria, 908 British nationals were naturalised under this rule in 2024 alone, making the UK one of the top three countries for this type of citizenship, alongside Israel (5,088) and the United States (1,894).
Since 2021, most British nationals naturalised as Austrian citizens under these rules rather than through standard naturalisation. Nearly all of them do not actually live in Austria either.
It's difficult to pinpoint a single reason behind the surge in British naturalisations. Brexit and Austria’s changes to its citizenship law happened just a few years apart, and both played a role. Across Europe, the naturalisations of British citizens increased after Brexit, as many sought to secure their EU rights. But in Austria, the new Nazi persecution victim law also played a major role.
Most likely, both factors are at play. For some, reclaiming Austrian citizenship is a deeply personal decision tied to family history, identity, and justice. For others, it’s a practical move to regain EU citizenship and the rights that come with it. And for many, it’s both - a way to secure a future in the European Union while reconnecting with their Austrian heritage.
READ ALSO: How Austria's newest citizens reclaimed a birthright stolen by the Nazis
Will this trend continue?
The huge post-Brexit rush for Austrian citizenship seems to be slowing down, but the numbers are still high compared to pre-Brexit levels.
Many of those who were eligible have already applied, but British nationals remain one of the largest groups seeking Austrian naturalisation.
For those still considering it, the process remains open - especially for long-term residents and those eligible under Austria’s law for Nazi persecution victims and their descendants.
While Brexit may have taken away the automatic right to live in Austria, for many Brits, Austrian citizenship has become a way to reclaim a sense of stability and belonging in Europe.
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Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect that the majority of British nationals naturalising as Austrian citizens since 2021 have done so under Austria’s rules for descendants of Nazi persecution victims. While Brexit played a key role in driving citizenship applications, the overlap with this law makes it difficult to determine a single cause for the surge in naturalisations.
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