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Austria recorded a significant increase in naturalizations in the first quarter of 2026, with new citizenships rising 21.2 percent compared to the same period last year. According to Statistik Austria, 6,641 people obtained Austrian citizenship between January and March, up from 5,479 in the first quarter of 2025. Of these, 1,955 lived abroad, while 4,686 were residents of Austria.
Strong Growth Among Long-Term Residents
The most notable increase came from individuals who have lived in Austria for at least six years. This group grew by 40.8 percent, reaching 2,309 naturalizations, said Manuela Lenk, Director General for Statistics at Statistik Austria. She added that naturalizations of spouses and children also surged—1,578 people, nearly three‑quarters more than in the previous year.
Among those living in Austria who became citizens, more than half previously held citizenship from one of five countries:
- Syria (1,110)
- Turkey (496)
- Afghanistan (420)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (203)
- Iran (194)
Women accounted for 49 percent of all new citizens (3,257 people), and one-third of those naturalized were minors. Notably, 22.5 percent of new citizens were born in Austria. Overall, naturalizations among residents increased by 42.4 percent year‑on‑year.
Majority Granted Through Legal Entitlement
More than two-thirds of all naturalizations—4,699 people (70.8 percent)—were granted on the basis of a legal entitlement. This includes the 2,309 individuals naturalized after at least six years of residence and for reasons deemed particularly worthy of consideration.
Austria also granted citizenship to two survivors of National Socialist persecution and 1,943 descendants of persecuted individuals. All but eight of them live abroad. However, this category saw a 10.6 percent decline compared to early 2025. Most recipients in this group came from:
- Israel (900)
- United States (615)
- United Kingdom (237)
Other pathways included 199 spouses of Austrian citizens, 155 people with at least 15 years of residence and proven integration, and 364 discretionary naturalizations—mostly long-term residents, along with 29 individuals recognized for exceptional contributions to Austria.
Regional Trends: Increases in Seven Provinces
Seven of Austria’s nine federal states reported higher naturalization numbers than a year earlier. The strongest relative increases were recorded in:
- Styria: +95.9% (580 people)
- Carinthia: +86.8% (198)
- Vienna: +78.2% (1,684)
- Vorarlberg: +43.2% (325)
- Salzburg: +38.9% (207)
- Lower Austria: +35.4% (833)
- Tyrol: +2.6% (238)
Declines were observed in Upper Austria (–14.4%, 546 people) and Burgenland (–9.6%, 75 people).
- source: APA/picture: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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