Naturalization trends in Austria and Germany

In Austria and Germany, there has been a notable increase in citizenship grants and naturalization activities. In Austria, the MA 35 citizenship office has reported a surge in ceremonies, with processing times significantly reduced from 301 days to approximately 2 minutes and 29 seconds.

Data from Statistik Austria indicates that naturalization numbers in Austria rose by 17 percent in the first half of 2026, with 13,700 people receiving citizenship. Among those residing in the country, there was a 34 percent increase compared to the previous year, with the most frequent nationalities being Syrians, Turks, Afghans, Iranians, and Bosnians and Herzegovinians. Regional data shows that Carinthia led the country in naturalizations, granting over 400 citizenships during this period.

While many residents obtain citizenship through legal entitlements such as residency and language proficiency, the human rights organization SOS Mitmensch noted that Austria’s naturalization rate of approximately one percent remains significantly lower than the European Union average of 2.6 percent. The organization criticized restrictive laws that prevent long-term residents and locally born children from participating in democratic processes. Political reactions to these trends have been mixed, with the FPÖ expressing alarm.

In Germany, local reports from the Ebersberg district highlight ongoing integration efforts, including ceremonies for residents from various nations such as Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine.