Citizenship by Investment in Austria (CBI) can be obtained with the help of significant investments in this country. This implies either opening a business, investing in real estate, or both options. Before starting the procedures, we recommend that you contact one of our immigration lawyers in Austria in order to understand the formalities. In the following lines, you can discover information about Austrian citizenship and the Austrian residence permit, as well as how you can apply for them.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Who can obtain Austrian citizenship by investment? | High net worth individuals who make significant direct investments in Austria. |
|
The program is also known as |
Economic Citizenship by Investment in Austria |
|
Objectives of the program |
To attract qualified individuals who can bring substantial benefits to Austria in exchange for citizenship. |
| Options available |
– business investments, – joint ventures, – government bonds, – direct investments in existing companies in Austria |
| Investment requirements |
Starting from EUR 7 million |
| Special type of investments |
Outstanding financial contributions in fields like: – science, – sports, – art, – philanthropy, etc. |
| Can family members be included in the program? (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Requirements |
– clear criminal record, – health insurance, – proof of funds, – basic knowledge of the German language, etc. |
| Approvals are done by |
The Austrian Government |
| References | Can be solicited at the citizenship by investment application in Austria |
| Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO) |
YES |
| Time frame |
Around 24-36 months |
| Benefits of citizenship in Austria |
– free travel in the Schengen area, – high quality of life, – the right to reside in Switzerland, – visa-free entry to around 192 countries worldwide, etc. |
| Austrian passport rank |
The 3rd most powerful passport in the world |
| Working with our immigration lawyers in Austria | Our team can manage the legal formalities for getting Austrian citizenship by investment. |
Table of Contents
What is Economic Citizenship by Investment in Austria?
Austria is among the few countries that offer economic citizenship by investment. This program presupposes the obtaining of this status by qualified persons who can provide real benefits in the economic, scientific, cultural, economic, or artistic sectors. Here are other interesting aspects of this citizenship program:
- it is also informally referred to as the second citizenship program;
- one can also obtain an Austrian passport that allows travel in Schengen member countries, which is a major benefit for foreign entrepreneurs;
- personal assets can be protected from a tax point of view; there are tax planning alternatives in this sense.
We recommend that those interested in Economic Citizenship by Investment in Austria contact our Austrian lawyers and benefit from specialized legal advice. Plus, the following infographic provides details on this topic:
What are the conditions for obtaining Austrian citizenship by investment?
If you are interested in the Austrian golden visa and the benefits of this program, we recommend the legal services of our law office in Austria. Below are some of the formalities that must be respected to apply for the Austrian citizenship by investment program:
- a significant investment in the country’s economy is needed. EUR 10 million in a business or EUR 3 million as a participation in a development fund to the government are two options available to those interested in this status;
- candidates must prove the source of the respective investments and must not have been involved in financial crimes. A clear criminal record will also be requested by the authorities;
- the authorities are also the ones who will make certain checks to ensure that the applicants for citizenship by investment in Austria do not represent a security risk to this country;
- it can be applied together with family members;
- it will be necessary to pass the language exam, in addition to the culture and history of Austria;
- the application for the Austrian golden visa is verified by the Austrian government;
- it is important to mention that the time frame for this kind of application is 24-36 months.
So, these are some of the formalities and rules for entering the Austrian citizenship by investment program or CBI as it is known. Being important investments, the authorities and the government allocate quite a lot of time to analyze each application for the Austrian golden visa.
In which sectors can you invest in Austria to receive citizenship?
If you are interested in citizenship by investment in Austria, it is good to know some of the sectors of interest in this country:
- Austria is betting on economic growth in the automotive sector. You can invest in this sector and, if you meet all the conditions imposed, you can be a good candidate for Austrian citizenship by investment;
- you might also be interested in the tourism industry, where you can also direct your investments in exchange for Austrian citizenship;
- CBI applicants in Austria can invest in the pharmaceutical sector. Austrian authorities focus on the research and development (R&D) sector linked to pharmaceuticals and the investments that can be made here;
- financial services and Information & Communication Technology are other sectors of interest where foreign investments can be made. Applicants who qualify can obtain Austrian citizenship by investment;
- artificial intelligence continues to develop rapidly globally. In Austria, you can invest in this sector and obtain CBI.
Given this information, all you have to do is choose your preferred sector of interest and make the desired investments. Our Austrian attorneys are at your disposal with comprehensive information and specialized legal advice if you want to know more about citizenship in Austria by investments.
Who issues approvals for CBI in Austria?
The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor is the institution in charge of verifying and approving the Austrian citizenship applications. Each application is carefully evaluated, and the above-mentioned authority must ensure that applicants provide detailed information about the source of investments, that they have not been involved in financial crimes, etc. The entire process of obtaining Austrian citizenship by investment can take around 36 months, but in most cases, the period is much shorter. With the services of our lawyers in Austria at your disposal, you can ensure that the application is free of complexities, errors, or inappropriate documents.
Immigration facts about Austria
Below are some interesting and recent statistical data about immigration to Austria:
- over 178,000 foreigners immigrated to Austria from countries such as Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany, and Syria. The immigration rate, however, decreased by almost 8.4% in 2024.
- around 25,400 asylum applications were registered in Austria in 2024.
- over 2.51 million immigrants currently live in Austria.
- about 27.8% represents the rate of immigrants in the total population of Austria.
- over 11,000 foreign citizens were naturalized in Austria in 2024.
We invite you to contact our law firm in Austria if you want more information about the Austrian golden visa. We are here to help you relocate to Austria in a simple and fast manner.