# Naturalization trends in Austria and Germany

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/naturalization-trends-in-austria-and-germany
> Updated: 2026-08-12T06:19:36.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

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.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-12: Austria sees 17% rise in naturalizations during first half of 2026

Austria's naturalization numbers rose 17 percent to 13,700 in the first half of 2026, though the rate remains well below the EU average of 2.6 percent.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austria-naturalization-rates-rise-in-first-half-of-2026

### 2026-07-19: Austria and Germany report surge in citizenship grants

Austria’s MA 35 office now processes up to 25 citizenship ceremonies daily, cutting average approval time to minutes, while Germany’s Ebersberg district celebrated about 150 new citizens, highlighting diverse,

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austria-and-germany-report-surge-in-citizenship-grants

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Cite as: Naturalization trends in Austria and Germany. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/naturalization-trends-in-austria-and-germany