https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Austria has strict rules for citizenship that mean even traffic offences can stop you from obtaining naturalisation, as a recent case in Vienna shows. https://www.thelocal.at/20260408/how-traffic-offences-can-cost-you-austrian-citizenship Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:05:44 +0200 how-traffic-offences-can-cost-you-austrian-citizenship Misleading claims by leaders of Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ) about naturalisation have been slammed by human rights groups and migration experts. We look at what the far right gets wrong about Austrian citizenship. https://www.thelocal.at/20260601/fact-check-what-austrias-far-right-gets-wrong-about-citizenship Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:35:11 +0200 fact-check-what-austrias-far-right-gets-wrong-about-citizenship Applying for citizenship in Austria can be a tricky process, but it's doable. Here's a look at some common mistakes to avoid to make the application process as smooth as possible. https://www.thelocal.at/20230424/the-7-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-applying-for-austrian-citizenship Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:32:28 +0200 the-7-common-mistakes-to-avoid-when-applying-for-austrian-citizenship Being born in Austria doesn’t by itself confer Austrian citizenship, but children can naturalise as Austrian - here's how. https://www.thelocal.at/20230512/can-children-under-the-age-of-18-be-naturalised-in-austria Fri, 12 May 2023 14:52:42 +0200 can-children-under-the-age-of-18-be-naturalised-in-austria Austria saw a 21.2 percent rise in the number of people gaining citizenship in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. We spoke to an immigration lawyer to look at the reasons behind the increase. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/whats-behind-the-rise-of-naturalisations-in-austria Mon, 18 May 2026 11:53:00 +0200 whats-behind-the-rise-of-naturalisations-in-austria Foreigners who plan on spending several years in Austria often wonder whether they should aim to become a permanent resident or Austrian. We weigh up the pros and cons of each. https://www.thelocal.at/20260515/is-it-best-to-aim-for-permanent-residency-or-citizenship-in-austria Fri, 15 May 2026 12:56:00 +0200 is-it-best-to-aim-for-permanent-residency-or-citizenship-in-austria The issue of multiple citizenships in Austria is complex, with many myths surrounding the subject. https://www.thelocal.at/20230531/reader-question-does-austria-allow-me-to-have-multiple-citizenships Wed, 31 May 2023 16:39:06 +0200 reader-question-does-austria-allow-me-to-have-multiple-citizenships Austrian citizenship comes with perks, including freedom of movement in the EU. But some foreign residents are wondering if newly naturalised Austrians get to enjoy these rights immediately or if they have to wait for a period of time before moving abroad. https://www.thelocal.at/20240513/can-i-get-austrian-citizenship-and-immediately-move-abroad Mon, 13 May 2024 10:49:05 +0200 can-i-get-austrian-citizenship-and-immediately-move-abroad Austria is home to some 1.8 million foreigners: more than 20 percent of the population. While many shy away from becoming Austrian due to the strict rules on holding more than one nationality, others are keen to go through the citizenship process. https://www.thelocal.at/20251211/why-some-foreigners-in-austria-choose-to-get-citizenship-despite-strict-rules Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:06:17 +0100 why-some-foreigners-in-austria-choose-to-get-citizenship-despite-strict-rules Austria’s strict citizenship rules mean even a bathroom break or phone call on a bike can be enough to delay or derail your application. https://www.thelocal.at/20250624/four-of-the-strangest-reasons-people-were-denied-austrian-citizenship Tue, 24 Jun 2025 16:22:15 +0200 four-of-the-strangest-reasons-people-were-denied-austrian-citizenship Austrian citizenship is a coveted status for many long-term residents and individuals with strong ties to the country. One of the questions often raised by those considering this significant step is whether there is an age limit for applying. https://www.thelocal.at/20240904/is-there-an-age-limit-for-applying-for-austrian-citizenship Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:01:46 +0200 is-there-an-age-limit-for-applying-for-austrian-citizenship Foreign residents in Austria face a difficult path to naturalisation. We spoke to a Vienna-based immigration lawyer to find out the biggest challenges and what internationals can expect in the coming years. https://www.thelocal.at/20260212/interview-austrias-citizenship-rules-are-already-tough-and-will-likely-get-stricter Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:18:41 +0100 interview-austrias-citizenship-rules-are-already-tough-and-will-likely-get-stricter Applying for citizenship in Austria can be a lengthy and daunting process - and understanding the lingo is like learning a new language in itself. These are the top words and phrases you're likely to hear along the way. https://www.thelocal.at/20230714/the-vocabulary-you-need-to-understand-the-austrian-citizenship-process Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:19:11 +0200 the-vocabulary-you-need-to-understand-the-austrian-citizenship-process Austria's strict dual citizenship rules are putting many foreign residents off from applying for Austrian nationality, readers have revealed. https://www.thelocal.at/20260108/its-a-deal-breaker-foreign-residents-frustrated-by-austrias-strict-dual-citizenship-rules Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:26:19 +0100 its-a-deal-breaker-foreign-residents-frustrated-by-austrias-strict-dual-citizenship-rules Austria is known for having some of the strictest citizenship rules around. People generally have to give up their previous citizenship when naturalising as Austrian, and Austrians mostly lose their citizenship if naturalising somewhere else. But there are exceptions. https://www.thelocal.at/20230831/explained-when-is-dual-citizenship-allowed-in-austria Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:45:09 +0200 explained-when-is-dual-citizenship-allowed-in-austria Austria granted citizenship to 25,095 people in 2025, and a large share live abroad. The new figures also show which provinces saw the sharpest shifts. https://www.thelocal.at/20260218/austria-sees-a-rise-in-naturalisations-but-who-are-the-new-citizens-in-2026 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:00:43 +0100 austria-sees-a-rise-in-naturalisations-but-who-are-the-new-citizens-in-2026 Applying to become an Austrian citizen is a difficult process and usually involves foreigners having to renounce their original nationality. One reader shares her naturalisation journey and the complicated feelings that go with it. https://www.thelocal.at/20260205/interview-receiving-austrian-citizenship-was-an-emotional-moment Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:53:30 +0100 interview-receiving-austrian-citizenship-was-an-emotional-moment More than 40,000 descendants of Austrian Holocaust survivors have taken up Austrian citizenship since 2020, officials said. https://www.thelocal.at/20260128/austria-grants-citizenship-to-tens-of-thousands-of-holocaust-descendants Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:31:56 +0100 austria-grants-citizenship-to-tens-of-thousands-of-holocaust-descendants Calls to revoke former minister Karin Kneissl’s citizenship after she made more damning comments against her home country have raised fresh questions about Austrian law. https://www.thelocal.at/20260128/karin-kneissl-debate-what-austrian-law-actually-allows-when-it-comes-to-stripping-citizenship Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:14:46 +0100 karin-kneissl-debate-what-austrian-law-actually-allows-when-it-comes-to-stripping-citizenship Austria has strict rules on citizenship and it won't allow dual citizenship in most, but not all, cases. Will a child have to choose when they reach 18? https://www.thelocal.at/20230113/reader-question-does-a-dual-citizen-child-in-austria-have-to-choose-between-nationalities Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:03:56 +0100 reader-question-does-a-dual-citizen-child-in-austria-have-to-choose-between-nationalities