Overview
The Austrian citizenship test (Staatsbuergerschaftstest) is one of the conditions for becoming an Austrian citizen by grant (Verleihung). It checks basic knowledge of the democratic order and its basic principles, and of the history of Austria and of the federal state where the applicant lives. It sits alongside proof of German language skills, a clean record, secure income and a minimum period of legal residence.
Who has to take it
Applicants must show German skills and pass the citizenship test, unless an exception applies. The government portal gives examples of exceptions: German is the applicant's mother tongue, the applicant is a minor, or the applicant attended school with a positive grade in German.
General requirements for a grant of citizenship
No criminal convictions and no pending criminal proceedings, in Austria or abroad, and no frequent or serious administrative offences.
Sufficiently secure income: regular own income averaging 36 months over the last six years before applying, with the last six months directly before the application.
German skills and the citizenship test, as above.
A positive attitude to the Republic of Austria, with no danger to public peace, order or security.
No residence ban, no return decision, no expulsion in the last 18 months, and no closeness to extremist or terrorist groups.
In principle, giving up the previous nationality.
Residence routes
| Route | Residence required |
|---|---|
| Regular grant | Ten years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, of which five years with a settlement permit, or ten years as a recognised refugee |
| Early grant | Six years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, plus one of: five years of marriage or registered partnership with an Austrian and shared household, EEA citizenship, birth in Austria, German at B2 level, or lasting professional and personal integration such as three years of volunteering |
Uninterrupted residence means no more than 20 percent of the required period spent outside Austria.
How to apply
Apply in person with the citizenship department of the state government (Amt der Landesregierung) of the state where you have your main residence. The authority tells you which documents are needed once it knows your personal details. Austrian states carry out all citizenship procedures. The portal also points to the federal "Mein Oesterreich" resource for preparing for citizenship.
Preparation tips
Learn the structure of Austria's democracy, its basic principles and its history, together with the history of your own federal state.
Use the preparation materials linked from oesterreich.gv.at.
Note
The official pages used here do not give the number of questions or the pass mark of the test. Check with your state's citizenship department.