Austrian Citizenship for Descendants of Nazi Victims

According to § 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act, persecuted persons and their direct descendants (including those adopted as minors) can acquire Austrian citizenship by means of a declaration (“Anzeige”) in a simplified procedure that is exempt from government fees, without having to give up their current citizenship(s).

“Persecuted persons” are:

1. Austrian citizens, citizens of one of the successor states of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy and stateless persons who had their main place of residence in Austria before 15 May 1955 and who left Austria because they feared or suffered persecution either by the Nazi regime or for defending the Democratic Republic of Austria. This also includes those who lost Austrian citizenship shortly before they left Austria because they acquired a foreign citizenship through marriage.

   
   

2. Austrian citizens who did not have their main place of residence in Austria between 30 January 1933 and 9 May 1945, because they would have had to fear persecution if they returned to or entered Austria for the first time.

   
   

3. Citizens of one of the successor states of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy or stateless persons, each with their main residence in Austria, or Austrian citizens (irrespective of their main residence), who died due to persecution or were deported abroad before 9 May 1945.

   
   

Document Requirements

The following documents (either in German or English, or with a certified German translation) must be submitted along with the completed declaration form:

Personal Documents of the Applicant:

• Valid passport

• Recent passport photograph

• Birth certificate

• Documents regarding marital status, if the last name has changed (e.g., marriage certificate and, if applicable, a name declaration)

• Current criminal record certificate from the country of residence (not older than 8 months)

  
  

Foreign original documents must be authenticated, depending on the country that issued the document either through diplomatic legalization or an apostille (unless an exemption applies).

It is required that the above listed original documents are verified by the Austrian Embassy/Consulate or the Austrian immigration authority.

Documents concerning the Persecuted Ancestor:

• Documents relating to the persecuted ancestor to prove that the specific legal requirements are fulfilled, have to be submitted. Copies are sufficient and no authentication of the documents is required.

  
  

• In general, no additional documents with respect to the persecuted ancestor are required, if the persecuted ancestor

  • was deported abroad or died due to persecution; or

  • received payments from the National Fund of the Republic of Austria for Victims of National Socialism or the General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism; or

  • has re-acquired Austrian citizenship in accordance with § 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act; or

  • has held a so-called Victim’s ID card (“Opferausweis”) issued by the Republic of Austria.

    
    

Documents to prove the Lineage

Descendants of Nazi victims must also submit all available records proving their direct lineage to the persecuted ancestor. These documents typically include birth certificates, marriage certificates, paternity acknowledgments, judicial declarations of paternity in cases of out-of-wedlock births, or adoption certificates, if applicable. Any documents related to name changes must also be provided if relevant.

Procedure to apply for Austrian Citizenship according to § 58c

Pursuant to § 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act, persecuted persons and their descendants can obtain Austrian citizenship through a declaration ("Anzeige") without being required to renounce their existing citizenship.

Persons not residing in Austria, can apply at the competent Embassy or Consulate, which forwards the application for processing to the competent citizenship authority in Austria.

The current processing times are approximately 4 to 8 months upon filing a complete application, but may vary in each individual case.