Many people who decide to emigrate from their country think that one of the best options for them is to obtain Austrian citizenship. And it's hard to argue with that. After all, an Austrian passport gives a person the right to travel freely to all countries of the European Union, live in any state he likes, and also have political stability and a high standard of living. But getting these benefits is not so easy.
Ways for immigrants
So, it is realistic to obtain Austrian citizenship through one of four ways:
- By blood. This option is suitable for any minor child, one of whose parents has Austrian citizenship, as well as for children from a dysfunctional family who have made an independent decision to become citizens of this country.
- Through marriage. This method is suitable for foreigners married / married to an Austrian subject. But the application for citizenship can be submitted after 1 year from the date of marriage. Given the fact that the last 4 years the immigrant has lived in Austria.
- By investing. This method is suitable for wealthy people. A person who has extra money must invest in the Austrian economy. Moreover, in the enterprise that creates jobs for local residents or contributes to increased exports. The amount is about 6-10 million dollars.
- Through naturalization. The method is available to everyone, but it involves taking into account the mass of legal nuances and the cost of time resources.
These are all existing ways by which it is realistic to obtain Austrian citizenship. Now it’s worth discussing the details.
Requirements
There are quite a lot of them. And all are binding. Here's what everyone who wants to acquire Austrian citizenship needs to learn:
- An immigrant should not have a criminal record or proceedings. Citizenship may be denied even because of the once exceeded speed or too many fines for improper parking.
- A foreigner must be law-abiding and have legal means to ensure life.
- A person should experience a positive attitude and love for Austria.
- An immigrant must be fluent in German.
- He must also live in Austria for at least 10 years.
- It will be necessary to abandon contacts with any other state so as not to harm the interests of their new country.
- Be sure to indicate the level of personal income and proof of financial viability. The minimum allowable is 1000 euros per person per month. This income must be stable during the last three years of an immigrant's stay in Austria.
These requirements must be met by every person who intends to obtain a passport of a citizen of this country.
Visa
Getting it is the first task that a person who is interested in immigration to Austria will need to cope with. Here are the documents you need to provide:
- Foreign passport, which must remain valid for another 3 months after the expiration of the visa. If there is an old one with an expired period, it must also be presented.
- Civil passport and copies of all completed pages.
- Two photos of the established format.
- An employment contract (for those who have found work in Austria) or proof of admission to a local university (for students).
- Confirmation of financial solvency.
- Application form on the established form.
- Insurance.
- Proof of residence in Austria.
- Permission to process personal data.
The entire package is submitted to the embassy or consulate by appointment.
Documents for citizenship
The Austrian Migration Service has established a list of mandatory documents required for filing by a foreigner who is planning to obtain a local resident's passport. Here's what it looks like:
- Passport and birth certificate.
- Biography (auto resume).
- Marriage certificate (if any).
- Confirmation of financial independence.
- Certificates of the absence of dangerous diseases and criminal records.
- Proof of renunciation of previous citizenship.
- Papers confirming that a person has intellectual property, records in various fields.
- A document confirming the legal residence of an immigrant in Austria for 10 years.
And this is just the main list of necessary papers. What a person needs to provide as a supplement depends on the method by which he decided to obtain Austrian citizenship.
Employment
Many people, thinking about how to obtain Austrian citizenship, decide to choose the least problematic way for this - to find work there.
If a person is really a high-class specialist in a particular field, then he has a chance to agree on cooperation with a particular company. When hiring him, the management will draw up an appropriate contract - it will become a key document on the basis of which an immigrant will be issued a visa to Austria. Another foreigner will be approved entry and a long stay in the country, if he is appointed to a senior position.
A work visa to Austria is usually issued for 6-12 months. However, it can be extended. And if an immigrant worked for the good of the country for five years, then he has the right to petition for the issuance of a special exemption document. This paper is an analogue of a residence permit, giving a foreigner exactly the same rights and obligations that are vested with local ones.
By the way, even a person without a diploma can find a job in this state. In Austria, there is a shortage of specialists in coating iron roofs, joiners, electricians, welders, nurses, power engineers, locksmiths, concrete workers, carpenters, as well as milling machine workers.
Residence
This is not only a document permitting to legally reside in Austria, but also the best proof of the years lived in this country, which will need to be presented when applying for citizenship. Here's what you need to get a residence permit:
- Fixed income. Monthly lows are: 900 y. e. for one person, 1300 euros for a married couple, and 140 - additionally for a child.
- Medical certificate. People who are employed in Austria do not need to deal with it; this concern rests with the leadership.
- Location. The best option is to buy your own home. If it is not possible to purchase real estate, then a long-term lease agreement is also suitable.
- Knowledge of the German language.
- Integrity. Neither a migrant, nor members of his family should be a danger to Austria.
Typically, a permit is issued for 6 or 12 months, as well as the already mentioned labor visa. It extends without problems. But only if the person did not violate the orders or laws of Austria. In the first 24 months, the residence permit is extended annually. Then for a year and a half, and then another 18 months. After a total of five years, it will be necessary to submit a petition to the embassy of the country so that a person receives a long-term residence permit.
What is needed to obtain a residence permit?
As already understood, Austria has very stringent requirements for immigrants. Permanent residence is real, but first you have to apply for a residence permit. Here is the package of documents required for this:
- Russian and foreign passports.
- Registration.
- Biometric photo.
- Birth and marriage certificate (if any).
- Insurance.
- Certificate of salary and bank statement;
- Documents for your own home or rental agreement;
- Certificate A1, testifying to the knowledge of the German language by a foreigner;
- Application form;
- Police clearance certificate.
But that is not all. If the immigrant is a student who wants to study in Austria, then he will need to present a personal application, confirmation from AASO (Austrian Academic Exchange Service) and proof of his enrollment in the local university. People who come to work must be granted permission to work.
Double citizenship
It is unacceptable in this country. But, as in all cases, there are exceptions. Here are the situations in which a potential Austrian citizen may not refuse the status of a subject of another country:
- If he is an internationally recognized person. And at the same time, at every opportunity, praises Austria.
- If he gained the citizenship of this state at the time of his birth.
- Special conditions are offered to pensioners. After all, they, having renounced their previous citizenship, may lose their pension. So that they can maintain the status of a subject of another country.
- It is allowed to leave the previous passport if the state in which the person used to live refuses to release him from citizenship.
- Also, exemptions are allowed for refugees who do not have a chance to renounce citizenship.
- And it’s also allowed to leave the old passport to people whose incomes are incommensurable with the cost of refusal.
In any of these situations, the authorities will give the go-ahead for maintaining their first citizenship.
Organization of business in the country
Many foreign entrepreneurs with sufficient funds and opportunities to create their own business abroad received Austrian passports. The migration service has the same requirements for them as for wage workers. But with one nuance.
The entrepreneur must disclose his income, which must exceed the mark of 5,000 euros per month. And by the way, just starting a business is not enough. It is necessary to prove to local authorities that the business is really useful, and not only profitable. If it works out, then obtaining a residence permit will take from 2 to 6 months.