Dual Citizenship in Austria 2026: When Is It Allowed?

Dual Citizenship in Austria 2026: When Is It Allowed? Austria permits dual citizenship only in exceptional cases. A complete guide to the 2026 law, Beibehaltungsgenehmigung procedure, EU citizen exceptions, and reform prospects. Topics: Migration, Citizenship.

Austria remains one of the most conservative countries in Europe when it comes to dual citizenship. Obtaining an Austrian passport while keeping your previous one is not the norm — a general prohibition applies to virtually all naturalising foreigners. Nevertheless, the law provides clear exceptions: for EU citizens, children of mixed-nationality parents, and humanitarian cases.

In this guide, you will learn: when Austria actually permits dual citizenship, how the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung (retention permit) procedure works, how much it costs, which documents you need, and how the Austrian approach differs from Germany’s. The article is based on the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (StbG), immigration authority practice, and current data as of 2026.

The Main Rule: Austria Prohibits Dual Citizenship

Austrian citizenship law (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz, §§ 25–28) is built on the principle of avoiding multiple citizenships. Upon naturalisation, a foreigner is required to renounce their previous passport. This distinguishes Austria from neighbouring Germany, where since 27 June 2024, most naturalised Germans retain their Doppelpass.

In practice, this means: when you acquire an Austrian passport, you lose your previous one unless you fall within a narrow list of exceptions. Violating this principle results in the automatic loss of Austrian citizenship (§ 32 StbG) — without notification or court proceedings.

An important nuance: the prohibition applies specifically to naturalisation — the voluntary acquisition of citizenship by application. If a second citizenship arises automatically (for instance, at birth), Austrian law does not revoke it.

When Dual Citizenship Is Allowed: the Exceptions

The law provides for several situations in which dual citizenship in Austria is permitted:

• At birth — from an Austrian parent and a foreign parent, both citizenships arise automatically. This is an unconditional exception requiring no additional permits.
• Humanitarian grounds — descendants of persons persecuted by the National Socialist regime may obtain Austrian citizenship without renouncing their current one. This was enshrined in the 2020 amendments to § 58c StbG.
• Special merits for Austria, where retaining the previous passport serves the interests of the Republic (§ 28 para. 2). Applied extremely rarely — usually to figures in science, arts, or major investors.
• Refugees and persons entitled to asylum for whom renunciation of their previous citizenship is legally impossible. However, asylum status itself in Austria is unstable — read more in our article on the revocation of asylum status for Syrian refugees.

Each case is examined individually and requires documentary proof. Austria is strict about naturalisation in general — there have been, for example, citizenship refusals for not accepting the national anthem. The authorities do not publish statistics on the number of dual citizenship permits granted, but the majority fall under humanitarian and family grounds.

EU and EEA Citizens: a Special Case

Citizens of European Union and European Economic Area countries who naturalise in Austria are entitled to retain their previous passport. This is one of the most stable exceptions, enshrined in § 28 para. 1 StbG.

Prior to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, British citizens also enjoyed this benefit. After Brexit, the advantage ceased — British nationals now fall under the general renunciation rule. Their only option is to prove “unacceptable hardship” of renunciation through the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung procedure.

For Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhs, and citizens of other non-EU/EEA countries, the benefit does not apply. Upon naturalisation, they must either renounce their previous passport or obtain a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung.

Beibehaltungsgenehmigung: the Retention Permit

If you fall under none of the automatic exceptions, the main instrument remaining is the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung — an official permit to retain your previous citizenship. This is an administrative procedure whose outcome depends on the persuasiveness of your arguments.

The permit is issued in three cases:

• Legal impossibility of renunciation — the country of origin does not provide for a citizenship renunciation procedure or makes it subject to unfulfillable requirements. For example, some states require personal appearance and payment of a fee equivalent to several years’ income.
• Unacceptable hardship — high renunciation fees (in some countries up to several thousand euros), loss of the right to enter to visit family, loss of property rights.
• Interests of Austria — retaining the applicant’s previous passport benefits the Republic, especially in the fields of economy, science, or arts. This ground requires documentary justification and is rarely applied.

The permit must be obtained before applying for citizenship. If you skip this step and later acquire a second citizenship, your Austrian one will be automatically lost. For more on the citizenship procedure itself, see our complete guide for immigrants.

The principle of avoiding dual citizenship is one of the most conservative in Europe. It protects citizens’ loyalty but is increasingly questioned in the context of mobility and globalisation.

— Migration law expert, University of Vienna

The Beibehaltungsgenehmigung Procedure: a Step-by-Step Guide

Obtaining a retention permit is a multi-stage process. Here is how it works in practice:

1. Consultation — contact the citizenship department (Staatsbürgerschaftsabteilung) of your federal province. A specialist will assess your case and advise on additional documents.
2. Gathering evidence — prepare documents proving the impossibility or unacceptability of renouncing your previous citizenship. For legal impossibility, an official opinion from your country’s consulate is required.
3. Submitting the application — fill out the Antrag auf Beibehaltung der Staatsbürgerschaft form and submit it with the document package. The application is reviewed by the provincial government (Landesregierung).
4. Review — the authority assesses how well your arguments meet the criteria of § 28 StbG. They may request additional documents or invite you for an interview.
5. Decision — if positive, you receive a written permit (Bescheid), which is attached to the citizenship application. A negative decision can be appealed to the administrative court.

Important: the permit is valid for a limited period, usually one to two years. You must complete the naturalisation procedure within that time. If the permit expires, you will need to obtain a new one.

Required Documents

The exact list depends on the ground you are relying on, but the basic package includes:

• Application in the prescribed form (issued by the citizenship department).
• Valid passport and Austrian residence permit.
• Proof of lawful residence — Meldezettel (registration of residence), extract from the Central Register of Residents (ZMR-Auszug).
• Documents proving the impossibility of renunciation: an official response from the consulate, excerpt from your country of origin’s legislation with a notarised German translation.
• For the “unacceptable hardship” argument: renunciation fee receipts, property ownership documents, proof of family ties.
• Proof of income confirming financial independence.
• Criminal record certificate (Strafregisterbescheinigung).

All foreign-language documents must be translated into German and notarised. We recommend making several copies of each document — originals are not always returned upon submission.

Costs and Timeframes

The procedure is not free. Main expenses:

• Application processing fee — from 150 to 400 euros depending on the federal province and case complexity.
• Notarised document translation — from 50 to 150 euros per document.
• Legal consultation — from 150 to 300 euros per hour. For complex cases, engaging a lawyer specialised in migration law (Fremdenrecht) is recommended.

Processing time: 3 to 12 months. In Vienna, due to high authority workload, timeframes tend towards the upper end. In smaller provinces (Burgenland, Vorarlberg), a decision can be reached in 3–4 months.

The 2026 Reform: Will Austria Permit Doppelpass?

By 2026, liberalisation of the dual citizenship law is actively debated in Austria. Neighbouring Germany has already taken the step: since June 2024, most naturalised Germans retain their previous passport. In Austria, the public and leading media (Der Standard, ZEIT) call for a similar reform, especially for descendants of migrants and integrated foreigners.

However, as of mid-2026, no comprehensive reform has been adopted. Targeted relaxations are under discussion — primarily for descendants of Nazi-persecuted persons. Austria’s political landscape remains conservative on migration issues: the ÖVP and FPÖ parties oppose expanding dual citizenship, arguing it “dilutes loyalty.”

For the latest changes, follow the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) and the official text of the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz on the RIS portal.

Comparison with Other EU Countries

The Austrian approach is among the strictest in Europe. For context:

Country	Dual citizenship upon naturalisation
Germany	Permitted since June 2024 — most naturalised persons retain their previous passport.
Switzerland	Permitted since 1992, virtually no restrictions.
Netherlands	Prohibited, but the list of exceptions is noticeably broader than Austria’s — marriage, birth, impossibility of renunciation.
Italy	Permitted.
Austria	Prohibited — Beibehaltungsgenehmigung as a narrow exception.

Source: EUDO Citizenship Observatory comparative analysis, data as of 2025.

Consequences of Renouncing Citizenship: What You Lose

Before applying for a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung, it is useful to clearly understand what is at stake. Renouncing your previous citizenship may mean:

• Loss of visa-free entry to your country of origin — a visa will be required.
• Limitation on length of stay when visiting family (usually 30–90 days).
• Loss of property rights — in several countries, foreigners cannot own land or real estate.
• Pension consequences — transferring your pension from the country of origin may become more difficult or impossible.
• Inheritance restrictions — special inheritance rules may apply to non-citizens.
• Loss of EU citizenship — if your current passport is from an EU country, you lose the right to free movement that EU citizenship confers, and regain it anew as an Austrian.

These are exactly the arguments that typically form the basis of a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung application — they demonstrate the “unacceptable hardship” of renunciation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I obtain Austrian citizenship without renouncing my Russian one?

Yes, but only through a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung. Russia allows renunciation of citizenship, so “legal impossibility” will not work. You will need to prove “unacceptable hardship” — and the chances here are lower than for citizens of countries where renunciation is objectively impossible (e.g., Argentina, Iran).

How long does the entire procedure take — from Beibehaltungsgenehmigung to passport? On average, 2 to 4 years: 3–12 months for the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung, then 6–18 months for the naturalisation itself. Everything depends on the authorities’ workload and the completeness of your document package.

What happens if I acquire a second citizenship without permission?

Your Austrian citizenship will be automatically revoked (§ 32 StbG) — without warning or court proceedings. Restoration is virtually impossible.

How do I find out whether I am required to renounce my citizenship?

Consult your country’s consulate. Some states (Ukraine, Belarus) do not recognise the voluntary acquisition of a second citizenship as grounds for losing the first, but for Austrian authorities this is irrelevant — they require formal renunciation.

Outlook: What to Do Today

Dual citizenship in Austria remains an exception, not the norm. Partial reforms are likely in the coming years: expansion of humanitarian grounds, facilitation for integrated foreigners. A full abolition of the prohibition along the German model is unlikely in the foreseeable future — the political consensus for it is currently absent in Austria.

Checklist: Your Actions

• Check whether you fall under an automatic exception (birth, EU/EEA, humanitarian grounds).
• If not — consult a migration lawyer about the prospects of a Beibehaltungsgenehmigung.
• Request official information from your country’s consulate about the citizenship renunciation procedure and its cost.
• Obtain the Beibehaltungsgenehmigung before applying for citizenship.
• Monitor law changes on BMI and RIS.

A mistake at this stage could cost you both passports. Do not act blindly — engage a specialist.

Sources

• Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (StbG) — federal citizenship law, §§ 25–32.
• Bundesministerium für Inneres — Staatsbürgerschaft — official BMI website.
• Der Standard — Doppelpass-Debatte — Austrian publication covering the citizenship reform.
• EUDO Citizenship Observatory — comparative database on EU country citizenships.
• ÖSD — Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch — information on language exams required for naturalisation.