Austria is one of Europe’s wealthiest countries, offering a very high quality of life to its people. With awe-inspiring natural attractions and a well-developed and stable economy, Austria makes for an outstanding place of residence.
An excellent place to establish residence within the EU, Austria is the only Western European country that offers the possibility to obtain citizenship by investment and an EU passport without prior residence requirements.
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Substantial contribution to the Austrian economy
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 190 destinations including Canada, Hong Kong, the rest of the EU, and Europe’s Schengen Area
As a citizen of Austria, you can live and work in the country and anywhere else in the EU at any time. The Austrian passport has an excellent reputation and offers very comprehensive visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel, including to Hong Kong (SAR China), Japan, Singapore, and the USA. It is without a doubt among the best travel documents in the world and ranks among the top 10 strongest passports on the Henley Passport Index. When you acquire citizenship under the Austrian Citizenship Act, you and your family enjoy full citizenship for life, which can be passed on to future generations by descent.
Under the citizenship by investment provisions, an applicant is required to invest actively in the Austrian economy, for example in the form of a joint venture or direct investment in a business that creates jobs or generates new export sales. Significant direct investment is generally required. Passive investments in government bonds or real estate, for example, do not qualify.
In addition to standard documentary requirements (such as passports, birth, and marriage certificates), a completely clean personal record (certificate of no criminal record), a comprehensive CV, and business background information, as well as impeccable references must be provided by all applicants.
The Austrian Citizenship Act generally requires the applicant to abandon their current citizenship as a precondition for being granted Austrian citizenship. However, in case of a grant of citizenship under the provisions of Article 10 (6) of the Citizenship Act, the former citizenship can be legally maintained, that is, the applicant may not be required to give up their present citizenship.
The grant of citizenship on the basis of a capital contribution involves various procedures and requires government approval at several levels. It is therefore essential that the applicant is properly advised from the beginning, that each individual case is carefully prepared, and that informal approvals from the key ministries are obtained before the investment is made and the formal application process is started.
Henley & Partners advises on suitable capital contribution opportunities, liaises with the various government agencies and ministries, and, finally, prepares and lodges your application with the government. The procedure involves a thorough background check. Citizenship documents are issued after the citizenship application has been approved.
Successful applicants receive full citizenship of the Republic of Austria by decision of the Government of Austria and can apply for a passport immediately afterwards. Passports are issued within a few days.
The grant of citizenship is not published and not reported to any other country, as it falls within the government provisions relating to privacy or official secrets.
The granting of citizenship is at the sole discretion of the Government of the Republic of Austria, and we are unable to guarantee that applications will be approved. However, great care has been taken to provide the best possible safeguards for persons entering the application process. Prior to taking on any mandate, a written agreement is made between the applicant and Henley & Partners defining the responsibilities of both parties.
Austria Citizenship by Investment offers investors and their families the opportunity to obtain Austrian citizenship by making a substantial contribution to the country's economy.
Investment options include significant contributions to the Austrian economy in the form of a joint venture or a direct investment in a business that creates jobs or generates new export sales.
Benefits include the right to live, work, and study in Austria and other EU countries, visa-free access to numerous countries worldwide, and access to high-quality healthcare and education.
There is no minimum investment amount, but applicants need to make a substantial contribution to the Austrian economy.
Processing times for citizenship by investment applications may vary. Please contact us to find out more.
Yes, the main applicant can include their spouse and dependent children in their application.
There are no specific residence requirements, but applicants may need to demonstrate a connection to Austria and spend some time in the country.
Required documents typically include a valid passport, proof of contribution, health insurance, a clean criminal record, a comprehensive CV, background business information, impeccable references, and other supporting documents.
Applicants must choose a qualifying investment, submit the application along with the necessary documents, and undergo a due diligence process.
Should you have any questions, or if you would like a detailed breakdown of the exact costs for your family, kindly contact us and we will be delighted to help you.
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