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AUSTRIAN CITIZENSHIP

Do I need to know everything about Austria’s history to become Austrian?

Taking the naturalisation exam is an essential step for obtaining Austrian citizenship. But how much do you actually need to know about Austrian history?

Published: 16 August 2024 14:43 CEST
Do I need to know everything about Austria’s history to become Austrian?
To obtain Austrian citizenship you need to learn some basics about the country's history. Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash
If you are considering applying for Austrian citizenship through naturalisation, you need to meet certain requirements, such as having lived in Austria for a specific number of years and having obtained a certain level of German proficiency, usually B1.

In addition, you need to pass a test covering Austria’s democratic system, history, and social norms and customs.  

The good news is that you do not need to be an expert on every detail when it comes to Austria and its history. However, a basic understanding of key aspects of Austria’s history, its democratic system, and some regional information is necessary. 

How is the test structured?

The test, which is in German and was introduced 2006, lasts for 120 minutes and you have to answer 18 questions in total. These include six questions on democracy in Austria, six on the history of Austria and six on the history of the respective federal state where you are taking the exam.

The questions on the democratic system and history of Austria are prepared by a central committee and the regional questions are prepared by the respective federal governments.

Four answer options are offered for each question, at least one of which is correct, but not all.

You pass the test if you achieve at least half of the available points in each section of the exam, or if you earn a total score that is around two-thirds of the maximum possible points.

If you fail the test, you can take it again until you pass.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: Who is entitled to Austrian citizenship by descent and how to apply for it?

What do you actually need to know?

On a national level, you should be familiar with basic facts and able to demonstrate understanding of topics such as Austria’s national day and its significance, the consequences of the First World War for Austria, the influence of the Habsburg dynasty, and the empire that governed Austria for five centuries.

You should also be able to answer questions about Austria’s political system, social norms, and customs. This includes understanding the fundamental aspects of the legal system in Austria, the right to vote, the different Austrian federal states, and how the state finances certain sectors, such as the public education system.

Additionally, the test covers questions on the principles of democracy, the aspects of a liberal state, and the concept of human dignity.

The Local is a great resource for many of these topics:

If you want to know more about the possible questions that may come up on the test, you can do a preparation test HERE.

You can also try out The Local’s citizenship test HERE.

What about the local knowledge?

 You also need to have some knowledge of the history of the federal state where you live.

The test includes six questions about the history of the federal state where you are taking the exam. The questions focus on regional history, significant local events, and local heritage.

The questions are designed to demonstrate your knowledge of the specific state where you are living, reflecting your integration into the local community.

If you want to improve your knowledge of your specific region, it can be a good idea to do some research, visit local museums, check government websites and ask some questions to the locals in your community. 

To prepare for the questions specific to your state, you can explore practice tests available HERE.

READ NEXT: EXPLAINED: How to apply for Austrian citizenship

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AUSTRIAN CITIZENSHIP

Rise in naturalisations: Who are the new Austrian citizens?

The number of people receiving Austrian citizenship through naturalisation processes has sharply increased. Here are some stats about the new citizens and where they are originally from.

Published: 22 August 2024 14:40 CEST
Rise in naturalisations: Who are the new Austrian citizens?

In the first half of 2024, Austria saw a significant 66 percent rise in naturalisations, primarily driven by descendants of Nazi victims. According to Statistics Austria, other naturalisations also increased, but at a lower rate of 19 percent.

“In the first half of this year, two-thirds more people received a red-white-red passport than in the first six months of the previous year. This increase is mainly due to the rise in naturalisations of people persecuted by the Nazi regime and their descendants. From January to June 2024, 4,125 acquired Austrian citizenship, with all but seven living abroad. However, there was also an increase of 18.3 percent to 6,925 in the number of other naturalised citizens, all but 33 of whom are resident in Austria,” said Statistics Austria director-general Tobias Thomas.

READ ALSO: Will my children get an Austrian passport if born in Austria?

Between January and June, 11,050 individuals became Austrian citizens, compared to 6,658 in the same period last year. According to the Statistik Austria release, 4,151 of these new citizens live abroad.

A breakdown of those naturalised in Austria during the first half of 2024 reveals interesting demographics. Nearly half (48.6 percent, or 5,374) were women. Minors (under 18) also comprised a significant portion, accounting for 33.0 percent (3,644) of new citizens. Interestingly, one-fifth (20.5 percent, or 2,267) of the naturalised individuals were born in Austria.

The data shows that 37 percent of those naturalised were descendants of politically persecuted victims of the Nazi regime, a right they have held since September 2020. This group largely comprises citizens from Israel, the United States, and Great Britain.

For other naturalisations, the most common countries of origin were Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan, with one in five new Austrians actually born in Austria. Furthermore, 3,244 people were naturalised based on long-term integration and/or German language skills.

The increase in naturalisations was observed in almost all federal states, with only Burgenland and Vienna experiencing a slight decrease compared to the first half of 2023.

READ ALSO: How foreigners can get fast-track citizenship in Austria

High hurdles for citizenship

Austria’s naturalisation rate, which measures the proportion of non-citizens becoming citizens, remains low at 0.7 percent, significantly lower than that of other European countries.

The difficulty of the naturalisation process is a key factor. Applicants (the main exception is for victims of National Socialism and their descendants) usually need to reside in Austria for ten years, pay a substantial fee of approximately €2,000, and renounce any other citizenship. For EU citizens who already have the right to live and work in Austria, these obstacles often outweigh the benefits of becoming a citizen.

This trend is reflected in data from Statistics Austria.

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