Higher German proficiency, mandatory integration courses, and simpler procedures are at the heart of Austria’s upcoming citizenship overhaul.
Austria is preparing to roll out one of its most sweeping citizenship reforms in decades, aiming to balance stricter integration standards with a more accessible and transparent application process. The planned revamp of the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz (Citizenship Act) is expected to take shape in the first half of 2026 under the governing coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS.
While no official draft law has been released, coalition documents and political briefings reveal a twofold approach: strengthening language and civic integration requirements while streamlining bureaucratic hurdles that have long frustrated foreign residents.
Raising the Bar for Language Skills
One of the most consequential changes concerns language proficiency. The required German level for citizenship would increase from B1 to B2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The government argues that “very good German skills” are indispensable for meaningful participation in Austrian society.
Critics, however, warn that the jump to B2 could disproportionately affect certain applicants—particularly older migrants, manual workers, and long-term residents who are well integrated but lack the time or resources to achieve advanced language certification. The Austrian Chamber of Labour has urged lawmakers to adopt a more flexible approach that reflects real-life integration, not just test results.
New Compulsory Citizenship Courses
A second major component of the reform is a new citizenship course designed by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). Future applicants would need to complete this program as a prerequisite for naturalisation. The course is expected to emphasize democratic principles, European values, and gender equality.
The broader integration program—already mandatory for refugees—would extend to all applicants, a move intended to reinforce cohesion but which some labour and migration advocates fear could exclude working migrants or EU nationals who face time and cost barriers.
Cutting Red Tape and Rethinking Income Rules
Even as the government tightens some rules, it aims to dismantle bureaucratic obstacles that slow down or complicate the citizenship process. Plans include greater digitalization, fewer income documents, and potential fee reductions.
NEOS parliamentary leader Yannick Shetty has been outspoken about making citizenship “more human and less bureaucratic.” He has called current income benchmarks—often seen as equivalent to a €2,500 net monthly income—unfairly restrictive, arguing that applicants’ motivation to contribute to Austrian society should carry greater weight than rigid financial formulas.
The coalition also intends to simplify how financial self-sufficiency is measured, particularly for people in shortage occupations. However, applicants will still need to demonstrate independence from social welfare, a principle the government has said remains non-negotiable.
Another small yet notable change could benefit many: minor administrative offences, such as traffic fines, would no longer be automatic grounds for rejection.
Questions Still on the Table
Key details remain uncertain. Policymakers have yet to clarify whether exceptions will exist for those unable to meet B2 standards, how expensive new courses will be, or if processing times—often stretching months or years—will be shortened.
As the reform process begins in 2026, Austrian policymakers face the task of reconciling integration demands with fairness and accessibility. For tens of thousands of long-term foreign residents, the success of this reform will depend less on tougher tests and more on whether the new system delivers the clarity and equity it promises.
Source: Amanda Previdelli, “What Austria’s planned citizenship reform could mean for foreign residents”, The Local AT
