Austria citizenship by descent
Austria offers citizenship by descent through a parent, and a fee-free §58c declaration for descendants of Austrians who fled Nazi persecution — open since 2020, with dual citizenship. Check whether you qualify, build your lineage, and get a primary-source-backed document checklist and cost estimate.
Who may qualify
- An Austrian-citizen parent at your birth → citizenship by descent.
- Or an ancestor persecuted by the Nazi regime who fled Austria (1933–1955) → §58c.
- §58c: no fee, no residence/language requirement, dual citizenship allowed.
- No deadline for the §58c route.
A general overview — your eligibility depends on the specifics of your line. The free check gives a personalized answer.
Not sure where to start?
The free eligibility check takes about two minutes.
By ancestor path
Your relationship to the Austria ancestor determines which rules apply.
Direct descendants of someone who fled Nazi persecution from Austria can declare citizenship, fee-free.
An Austrian-citizen parent at your birth confers citizenship by descent.
Requires an unbroken line — your parent must have been Austrian at your birth.
What you'll need
- Government fee
- §58c is fee-free; descent determination has modest provincial fees
- Typical timeline
- Several months to ~1+ year
- Where
- Austrian consulate → MA 35, Vienna
Key dates & laws
§58c — open since 1 Sep 2020
Permanent (no deadline) for descendants of persecuted Austrians.
Persecution period
Ancestor persecuted 30 Jan 1933 – 9 May 1945 and emigrated before 15 May 1955.
Where it's processed
Austrian consulate → Vienna provincial government (MA 35)
Tools
Guides
Frequently asked questions
- Who qualifies for Austria citizenship by descent?
- Eligibility runs through the Descent + Nazi-persecution restitution pathway and depends on your specific line of descent — which ancestor was a citizen, when, and whether the chain was ever broken by naturalization or other events. Run the free eligibility check for a personalized answer.
- Which authority decides Austria citizenship cases?
- Provincial government. EasyPassport is not affiliated with them; we help you organize and verify, and you submit to the authority directly.
- How long does it take?
- Timelines vary widely by route and backlog and are outside any service's control. Treat published averages as estimates and confirm current waits with the authority.
- Do I need to upload my passport or ID?
- No. EasyPassport never stores passports or government IDs — it's a checklist and organization tool, not a document vault.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. We use “may qualify” language because the authority makes the final determination. For an individualized opinion, consult a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.
Other countries we support
EasyPassport is not affiliated with Provincial government, any government, or any consulate. This is a document-organization tool, not legal advice — always verify with the relevant authority.