Austrian citizenship: new law and what changes in 2026

Austrian citizenship: new law and what changes in 2026 Austrian citizenship: new law in force since 12 June 2026, a planned reform with B2 German and an ÖIF course, income rules and an application checklist. Topics: News, Citizenship, Politics.

Austrian citizenship rules are moving in 2026, and the timeline matters for your application. Since 12 June 2026 a new law has been in force, but it only makes technical adjustments. The bigger reform — with higher German requirements and lower financial hurdles — has been agreed in the government programme but not yet passed. What changed in June, which rules still apply, and what should applicants prepare? We walk through the residence terms, the income and language requirements, the transitional provisions and a full application checklist. All details reflect the status as of November 2026.

The new law: in force since 12 June 2026

On 20 May 2026 the National Council passed the Asylum and Migration Pact Adaptation Act, known as AMPAG. The Federal Council followed on 3 June, and the law was published on 11 June in BGBl. I Nr. 39/2026. It entered into force on 12 June 2026 and also amended the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (the 1985 Citizenship Act).

The citizenship changes are technical. Terms such as “recognised refugee status” are aligned with the new EU migration pact, and references to the asylum act, the alien police act and the settlement act are updated. Section 5 on age assessment and section 15 on cooperation duties were also reworded. The amendment further touches section 10 on refusal grounds, section 11a on refugees and sections 16, 59, 60 and 66 on procedures. Applicants with no link to an asylum procedure will notice no difference — the path to Austrian citizenship stays the same.

For applicants, one detail counts: transitional provisions state that proceedings opening on or after 12 June 2026 follow the new law. The core requirements for Austrian citizenship remain untouched, as the consolidated version of the Citizenship Act confirms.

The rules that still apply

The baseline requirement is unchanged: at least 10 years of lawful, continuous residence in Austria, including at least 5 years with settlement status (Niederlassung, permanent residence). EU/EEA citizens, people born in Austria, spouses of Austrians and holders of extraordinary achievements qualify after 6 years under section 11a.

Language and knowledge requirements stand as well. You still need German at level B1 plus the citizenship test on Austria’s democratic order and history (section 10a). Level B2 or proven sustainable integration opens the six-year track. We explain the exam in detail in our guide to the Austrian citizenship test.

The income rule asks for stable personal earnings averaging 36 months within the last six years, without claiming social assistance. As tt.com reported, citing the APA, that meant 1,274 euros net for singles at the end of 2025, 2,010 euros for couples and an extra 197 euros per child.

Budget for deductions before you apply: rent, loan instalments and alimony reduce your counted earnings. One allowance up to the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze (minor employment threshold) under section 292 ASVG is ignored once. Months in which you received Kinderbetreuungsgeld (childcare allowance) count as secured automatically. The benchmark is the average threshold under section 293 ASVG over the last three years.

The planned reform: B2 German, an ÖIF course and lower financial hurdles

The 2025–2029 government programme of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS promises an “upgrade” of Austrian citizenship. The required German level should rise from B1 to B2. A mandatory citizenship course at the ÖIF (Austrian Integration Fund) covering democracy, European values and gender equality would come on top.

At the same time, financial hurdles are supposed to fall. The income threshold and the fees — partly set by the federal states — are slated for cuts. For workers in shortage occupations, the collectively agreed wage should count as proof of sufficient income. Minor administrative offences would no longer block applications, and pilot projects for online application tracking are planned.

NEOS parliamentary leader Yannik Shetty had announced the reform for the first half of 2026, as heute.at reported. As of November 2026 it has not yet been passed. The current act still shows B1 and ten years, so the status quo continues to apply.

What should matter is whether you want to be part of this society, not whether you earn 2,500 euros net per month.

— Yannik Shetty, NEOS parliamentary leader

Who the changes affect

The numbers show the scale. According to Statistik Austria, 25,095 people received Austrian citizenship in 2025, 14.6 percent more than in 2024. Of the new citizens, 38.2 percent lived abroad — mostly descendants of Nazi persecution victims under section 58c.

For specialists in shortage occupations, the income check should become more flexible. Recognised refugees remain on the long track: section 11a allows naturalisation after 10 years. Spouses of Austrians can apply after five years of marriage and six years of residence.

The ban on dual nationality stays. The government programme explicitly confirms it, and our explainer on dual citizenship in Austria details the narrow exceptions.

Application checklist

If you are applying now, prepare these documents:

• Proof of 10 years of lawful, continuous residence through residence titles and Meldezettel (registration of residence) records
• A B1 certificate from ÖIF or ÖSD and the passed citizenship test
• Income records for the 36-month average, such as payslips and tax assessments
• Birth, marriage and nationality certificates, certified and translated
• A criminal record certificate from your home country
• Fees that range from several hundred to over a thousand euros depending on the federal state

Our step-by-step guide to applying for Austrian citizenship covers the process, and the overview of Austrian citizenship requirements rounds it up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the new law already in force? Yes, AMPAG applies since 12 June 2026. It only adjusts the Citizenship Act technically. The bigger reform with B2 and the ÖIF course has not been passed yet.

When does German B2 become mandatory? Not yet. Level B1 remains sufficient for the standard track. However, B2 already speeds things up, because it opens the six-year route under section 11a.

How much income do you need? The 36-month average must allow life without social assistance. At the end of 2025 that was about 1,274 euros net for a single person.

When does the reform with the ÖIF course take effect? It is agreed in the government programme for 2026, but no specific act exists yet. New rules will not apply retroactively to ongoing proceedings.

What applicants should do now

Until the reform passes, the proven rules apply: 10 years of residence, level B1, secured income and a clean record. If you meet the requirements today, do not wait for future rules. The first step is booking an appointment with your federal state authority.

Check your residence history and income against the checklist above and gather certificates early. We keep following the legislative process — subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a change to Austrian citizenship law.