Austria could be heading for its most significant overhaul of citizenship rules in years. But for many foreign residents watching the debate closely, one long-standing restriction still overshadows everything else: the near-total ban on dual citizenship for naturalised Austrians.
The governing coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS has committed to reforming the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz, with work expected to begin in the first half of 2026, as reported. The changes under discussion point towards stricter language and integration requirements, combined with some easing of bureaucracy and financial hurdles.
For many long-term residents, however, requirements such as German level, income thresholds or courses are not the main obstacle. Instead, it is Austria’s strict rules banning dual citizenship for most naturalised citizens that remain the decisive barrier.
READ ALSO: What Austria’s planned citizenship reform could mean for foreign residents
‘The one and only deal breaker’
In a recent reader survey, respondents repeatedly described the renunciation requirement as the decisive reason they have not applied for Austrian citizenship.
Maria, originally from Colombia, said that being forced to give up her original nationality felt unnecessary and damaging. “One should be allowed to keep the other nationality. It is part of one’s origins, and it would enrich Austrian culture to allow it,” she wrote.
For Bogdan, a Romanian citizen living in Upper Austria, other requirements were far less problematic. “Not allowing dual citizenship is too strict. Other requirements seem ok,” he said. As an EU citizen with permanent residence, he added that Austrian citizenship would not change much in practical terms, making the loss of his original nationality hard to justify.
Several readers described citizenship as an expression of identity rather than a purely legal status. Simon, who lives in Vienna, said he felt equally British and Austrian after spending comparable parts of his life in both countries. “My citizenship should reflect that. I am neither British nor Austrian, I am both. I do not want to lose my British citizenship,” he said.
Others were even more direct. RTL, an American living in Salzburg, summed up his position: “I would love to, but only if I didn’t have to renounce my own citizenship. That is the one and only deal breaker.”
Andrew W., also from the United States and based in Vienna, said he considered residence and language requirements reasonable, but described the ban on dual citizenship as “quite stupid”.
Vladyslav, a Ukrainian living in St. Pölten, shared that view, saying the residence requirement was fair, but the dual citizenship ban was not.
READ ALSO: 'I want to integrate': Why foreigners become Austrian, despite the strict rules
Why Austria makes dual citizenship so hard
Austria is widely seen as having some of the strictest citizenship rules in Europe. People who naturalise as Austrians are generally required to give up their previous citizenship. Likewise, Austrian citizens who voluntarily acquire another nationality usually lose their Austrian citizenship.
There are, however, a limited number of exceptions.
Dual citizenship is automatically allowed at birth. Children born to one Austrian parent and one foreign parent usually acquire both citizenships without having to choose between them later in life. The same applies if two Austrian parents have a child in a country that grants citizenship by birth, such the US or Brazil.
Another major exception applies to people who obtain Austrian citizenship through the restoration route for victims of the Nazis and their descendants. Since September 1st, 2020, those persecuted under National Socialism, or their descendants, have been able to regain Austrian citizenship while keeping any other nationality they hold.
Finally, there is a rare and highly discretionary route through state approval. In exceptional cases, dual citizenship may be granted if deemed in the special interest of the Republic of Austria, typically for extraordinary achievements. These cases are extremely uncommon and must be approved in advance – a well-known example is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who naturalised as an American citizen and did not have to relinquish his Austrian passport.
For the vast majority of long-term foreign residents, none of these exceptions applies.
READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: When is dual citizenship allowed in Austria?
How does Austria compare internationally?
Austria’s restrictive stance stands in contrast to several other countries. France, for example, allows dual citizenship without restriction. The same in Italy, Sweden, Germany, and many other European countries.
Some countries go further in the opposite direction. China, India, and Japan do not recognise dual citizenship, although India allows former citizens a limited status known as Overseas Citizenship of India.
Others sit somewhere in between. Spain generally requires foreigners to give up their existing nationality, but makes broad exceptions for citizens of former Spanish colonies and certain other countries.
Despite the wide-ranging discussion of citizenship reform in Austria, the dual citizenship ban has barely featured in political statements. This silence has not gone unnoticed by foreign residents, many of whom say that no amount of administrative streamlining or tougher language requirements will address what they see as the core problem.
READ ALSO: The immigration changes that await foreigners in Austria in 2026 and beyond
Key vocabulary
die Staatsbürgerschaft – citizenship
die Einbürgerung – naturalisation
die doppelte Staatsbürgerschaft – dual citizenship
das Deutschniveau B2 – advanced German language level
die Selbsterhaltungsfähigkeit – financial self-sufficiency
die Aberkennung der Staatsbürgerschaft – revocation of citizenship
Comments (3)