Austria has no citizenship-by-investment program. Many online guides present one, but Austrian law does not sell citizenship and there is no price list. What exists is a narrow exception for people who have rendered, and are still expected to render, extraordinary achievements in the interest of the Republic. Money alone does not qualify, and the Interior Ministry says so explicitly.
The legal basis
Section 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985, StbG) is a constitutional provision. It allows citizenship to be granted when the Federal Government confirms that the grant is in the special interest of the Republic because of extraordinary achievements already rendered by the person and still expected from them. When that confirmation is given, the usual requirements of the Act, including the ten-year residence requirement, do not apply. A separate federal regulation sets out the procedure for obtaining the Government’s confirmation.
What the Interior Ministry says counts
- Extraordinary achievements are only those that are currently far above average in the person’s field.
- The grant must serve the special interest of the Republic; naturalisation is never granted as an honour, and decorations alone are not enough.
- The Council of Ministers’ criteria of 25 February 2014 do not all have to be met; meeting them selectively but predominantly is enough if they carry particular weight overall. The list is not exhaustive and other areas are possible if comparable criteria apply.
The assessment criteria, by field
Business
- Ownership or a leading role with significant influence (membership of a board alone is not enough);
- high economic performance of the company;
- creation and safeguarding of jobs, especially in structurally weak regions;
- significant investments or projects in Austria: the Ministry states that mere flows of money are not sufficient;
- the company’s reputation abroad; and
- promotion of Austria’s bilateral and multilateral economic relations.
Science
Work in areas not yet developed or advancing a scientific field; mainly continuous activity in Austria (or abroad for Austrian institutions); high international reputation; national and international publications; transfer of knowledge to Austria; active, recognised research; and teaching at Austrian universities.
Sport
No comparable Austrian athlete available; outstanding performance in Austria for at least one year; an expected continuing successful career; the intention and legal possibility of immediate deployment in the Austrian national team; and very good placings in national or international competitions.
Arts
A substantial contribution to Austria’s art scene; substantial teaching at Austrian universities; strengthening Austria’s artistic reputation abroad; audience appeal; and developing an own technique, reviving an old art technique or creating a new art form.
Does investment count?
It can be part of a business case, through jobs, projects and economic relations, but it is judged on its real effect for Austria. Passive investment (property, bonds, deposits) does not meet the standard. There is no official minimum amount. Figures such as “€3–10 million” that circulate online come from consultancies, not from the Austrian authorities, and we do not repeat them.
What to expect
- The decision is discretionary and taken by the Federal Government; nobody has a right to it.
- There is no official timetable.
- The official citizenship portal lists achievements in the special interest of the Republic as one of the cases in which a citizenship application is possible even while living abroad.
- The Ministry’s page does not address whether you must give up your previous citizenship; this has to be assessed for each case.
Who this is really for
It is a possibility for a small number of exceptional founders, scientists, artists, athletes and philanthropists with a genuine, documented track record and a credible plan that benefits Austria. For almost everyone else, a European residence program is a more realistic route, and we will tell you so.
How GoldPassports helps
We give you an honest early assessment against the Ministry’s own criteria, and, if your profile could meet the standard, connect you with Austrian immigration counsel to prepare a case. If it could not, we help you compare the programs that are actually open.
Which countries is the Austria Citizenship by Exceptional Merit most popular in?
Where most applicants and prospective investors come from, based on how much interest each country shows.
Most popular in Also popular
- United States
- India
- United Kingdom
- Pakistan
- United Arab Emirates
- Canada
- Australia
- Egypt
- Hong Kong
- Nigeria
Popularity is estimated from Google search volume for Austria programs (average monthly searches, October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026; source: Google Ads Keyword Planner), among the countries we track. It shows popularity, not eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an Austrian citizenship by investment program?
No. Austrian law has no program that grants citizenship in exchange for an investment. The only related provision is Section 10(6) of the Citizenship Act, which requires extraordinary achievements in the special interest of the Republic.
How much does Austrian citizenship cost?
There is no official price. Amounts quoted online come from consultancies and are not set by the Austrian authorities.
Does buying property or bonds qualify?
No. Passive investment does not meet the standard. The Interior Ministry's business criteria look at ownership or a leading role, jobs created or safeguarded, significant investments or projects in Austria and economic relations, and state that mere flows of money are not enough.
Who decides?
The Federal Government alone confirms that the grant is in the special interest of the Republic. The decision is discretionary.
Do I have to live in Austria?
Under Section 10(6) the usual requirements, including the residence requirement, do not apply once the Government gives its confirmation. The official portal lists this route among the cases where an application is possible while living abroad.
What are the criteria?
The Council of Ministers adopted criteria on 25 February 2014 for science, business, sport and the arts. They need not all be met; meeting them selectively but predominantly can be enough if they carry particular weight.
Must I give up my current citizenship?
The Interior Ministry's page does not say. This depends on the individual case and has to be assessed with Austrian counsel.
How long does it take?
There is no official timetable.
Related updates
Official sources
Figures on this page come from the sources below and were last verified on 16 October 2026. Rules change; always confirm the current position before investing.
- Federal Ministry of the Interior: Citizenship in the special interest of the Republic (criteria of 25 February 2014)
- Austrian Citizenship Act 1985 §10: consolidated federal law (RIS)
- Regulation on the procedure for the confirmation under §10(6) StbG: RIS
- Austrian citizenship portal: citizenship while residing abroad
