Statistik Austria reported on 11 November that 17,649 people obtained Austrian citizenship in the first three quarters of 2025, an 11.5 % increase compared with the same period in 2024. More than three-quarters of all grants were based on a legal entitlement rather than discretionary approval, and 38 % of the new citizens reside abroad.
The single biggest group (6,745 people) were descendants of victims of National-Socialist persecution—a special provision that allows them to reclaim Austrian nationality while keeping their existing passport. Applications in this category had dipped slightly in 2023 but rebounded strongly in 2024-25 after the government simplified documentation requirements.
![Austrian naturalisations up 11.5 % in 2025—NS-victim descendants remain largest cohort]()
Among residents naturalised in Austria, Syrians (19 %), Turks (11 %) and Afghans (8 %) topped the list of previous nationalities. Almost one-third of all new citizens had already lived in the country for six years or more, reflecting integration pathways such as the Red-White-Red Card.
For employers the trend has practical implications. New citizens no longer require work-permit sponsorship or labour-market checks, which can ease staffing constraints in industries ranging from health care to IT. HR departments should proactively update payroll and social-security records when an employee’s status changes to avoid withholding errors.
Politically the figures fuel ongoing debates about integration and demographic renewal. Proponents argue that Austria needs larger talent inflows to offset an ageing workforce, while critics question whether the naturalisation test is stringent enough. Further amendments to the Citizenship Act—including shorter residency requirements for key workers—are expected to be discussed in parliament before the spring 2026 session.
The single biggest group (6,745 people) were descendants of victims of National-Socialist persecution—a special provision that allows them to reclaim Austrian nationality while keeping their existing passport. Applications in this category had dipped slightly in 2023 but rebounded strongly in 2024-25 after the government simplified documentation requirements.
Among residents naturalised in Austria, Syrians (19 %), Turks (11 %) and Afghans (8 %) topped the list of previous nationalities. Almost one-third of all new citizens had already lived in the country for six years or more, reflecting integration pathways such as the Red-White-Red Card.
For employers the trend has practical implications. New citizens no longer require work-permit sponsorship or labour-market checks, which can ease staffing constraints in industries ranging from health care to IT. HR departments should proactively update payroll and social-security records when an employee’s status changes to avoid withholding errors.
Politically the figures fuel ongoing debates about integration and demographic renewal. Proponents argue that Austria needs larger talent inflows to offset an ageing workforce, while critics question whether the naturalisation test is stringent enough. Further amendments to the Citizenship Act—including shorter residency requirements for key workers—are expected to be discussed in parliament before the spring 2026 session.
