Becoming a citizen of another country is no easy feat. It involves a lot of work, financial stability and questions about identity.
As well as reaching milestones such as clocking up the required residence – up to 10 years in Austria – and demonstrating B1 German language skills, internationals must also consider what becoming Austrian means.
Under the country's tough citizenship rules, people who gain Austrian citizenship under the standard path, generally have to give up their original nationality for good.
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Many readers told The Local they were put off becoming Austrian, because they didn't want to lose their original citizenship.
However, despite the constraints many others were keen to go through the process.
We asked readers to share whether they had become Austrian, or are planning to apply, and why.
'I want to better integrate in society'
For those who said they were applying to become Austrian, or planned to soon, one reason given was because they wanted to feel more at home in their chosen country.
A reader who wished to remain anonymous said they were applying "to better integrate in the society".
They added; "Even with permanent residency, many foreigners do not find the full benefits living in Austria or travelling abroad as compared to an Austrian citizen."
Others felt it was the right move after a long period of residence.
David Wright-Policepayeh, who's from the UK and is now based in Lower Austria, said he secured an Austrian passport due to Brexit (when the UK left the EU), and because it "seemed daft" not to become a citizen after living in the Alpine nation almost 40 years.
Some respondents mentioned the perks of having a European passport.
Maria, who's from Colombia, said she is "in the process of applying".
"I come from South America, and to find a job with my nationality it is not easy," she said. "It will be if I get a European passport."
However, Maria added that the rule forbidding people to hold multiple citizenships when naturalising in Austria, unless there is an exception, is frustrating.
"One should be allowed to keep the other nationality," she said. "It is part of one's origins, and it will enrich Austrian culture to allow it."
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The latest figures show that from January 1st 2025 up to the end of September, more than 17,600 people became Austrian citizens – an 11.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Of course, not everyone becomes Austrian via the standard naturalisation route. According to the data, compiled by Statistics Austria, victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants continue to make up the largest group of new citizens.
They accounted for 38.2 percent of the total naturalisations during this time period, meaning 6,745 people became Austrian under this legal category, the only one that allows dual citizenship. Almost everyone from his group resides outside Austria.
Paul Frank Covello, from the US, said he obtained his Austrian citizenship this way. But he shared that the immigration office in Vienna did not make it easy for him.
"My mother was born in Linz. MA 35 gave my mom no issues in Linz but I had to go through Vienna, and they gave me a hard time trying to deny my mom was persecuted," he said.
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