Austrian Citizenship: Proposal to Exclude Refugee Years from Residency Calculation Postponed
PublishedEditorial policy
An Austrian parliamentary committee has postponed a proposal by the FPÖ party that sought to exclude years spent as a recognized refugee from the residency period required for Austrian citizenship. Current rules, which count these years, remain in effect.
Key takeaways
- Years spent with recognized refugee status continue to be counted towards the residency period for Austrian citizenship; no changes have occurred.
- The postponement of the proposal means that refugees will not face additional delays in applying for citizenship in the immediate future.
- If you are planning to apply for Austrian citizenship, base your plans on the current legislation, which has not changed regarding this matter.
Austrian Citizenship Rules for Refugees Remain Unchanged
A proposal by the FPÖ party to exclude years spent with recognized refugee status from the residency period required for Austrian citizenship has been reviewed and subsequently postponed by a parliamentary committee. This means that the current regulations remain in force.
Had the proposal passed, individuals with refugee status would have faced a longer waiting period before being eligible to apply for Austrian citizenship, as their years as a refugee would not have been counted towards the total residency requirement. However, under the existing legislation, these years continue to be included in the overall residency calculation necessary for a citizenship application.
Applicants for Austrian citizenship should continue to rely on the current, unchanged legal framework.
Sources
Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.
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