Austria sees 17% rise in naturalizations during first half of 2026

In the first half of 2026, Austria saw a significant rise in naturalizations, with 13,700 people receiving citizenship—a 17 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Of those residing in Austria, 9,750 were granted citizenship, marking a 34 percent increase from the previous year. The largest groups of residents receiving citizenship originated from Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While numbers are rising, the naturalization rate remains at approximately one percent, which is notably lower than the European Union average of 2.6 percent. Human rights organization SOS Mitmensch criticized these figures, stating that high hurdles for citizenship exclude many long-term residents and locally born children from democratic participation.

Regional data shows that Carinthia led the country in naturalizations, granting over 400 citizenships during the first half of the year. Political reactions have been mixed, with the FPÖ expressing alarm over the trends, while many new citizens obtained their status through legal entitlements based on long-term residency and demonstrated integration.