Austrian Citizenship in 2026: The 10-Year Route, § 10(6) StbG and Taxes for Residents

The Privatier permit is a start, not a destination. Here is where it leads, checked on 27 October 2026 against official Austrian pages, plus the BRIDGES view on the rare fast route.

After 5 years: Daueraufenthalt EU

According to oesterreich.gv.at, you can apply after five years of uninterrupted settlement. Time on the Privatier permit counts. Stays abroad of more than six months at once, or more than ten months in total over the five years, interrupt the period. You also need Module 2 of the integration agreement (German B1). The status is unlimited and gives access to the labour market.

After 10 years: naturalisation

The general route needs 10 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, of which at least five with a settlement permit. You may spend at most 20% of that time outside Austria. Other conditions on oesterreich.gv.at: no relevant convictions, secure income averaged over 36 months within the last six years, German B1, the citizenship test, and in general giving up your previous citizenship.

§ 10(6) StbG: the exception people call “citizenship by investment”

The constitution-level provision allows citizenship when the federal government confirms that past and expected extraordinary achievements are in the special interest of the Republic. The Interior Ministry criteria of 25 February 2014 speak of achievements far above average. In business this means things like creating jobs in relevant numbers and significant investments already made in Austria, and the text says plainly: mere money flows are not enough. Science, sport and art are also covered.

The City of Vienna explains that residence, German, the test, income and renunciation are not required for the main applicant. It can be extended to a spouse and children, but they must meet the general naturalisation conditions. Fees per person: EUR 163 for an adult application (EUR 89 for minors), payable even if refused, and EUR 1,918 for the grant. The file goes through the embassy to MA 35, Unit 8.3.

Source	What it says about § 10(6)
BRIDGES	no legal price; a market guide from EUR 3 million non-returnable or EUR 10 million invested; in 2025 fewer than 80 people received citizenship on exceptional grounds; spouse and minor children go with the applicant
City of Vienna	family extension requires German, income, the test and no convictions

The BRIDGES figures are its own data and are labelled as such. Details on the BRIDGES page. There is also a separate route for people persecuted by the Nazi regime and their descendants (§ 58c StbG), described by BRIDGES.

Taxes once you live in Austria

According to the Ministry of Finance, people with a domicile or habitual abode in Austria are taxed on their worldwide income; after six months of stay this applies retroactively. Nationality does not matter.

Taxable income 2026	Rate
up to EUR 13,539	0%
EUR 13,539 to 21,992	20%
EUR 21,992 to 36,458	30%
EUR 36,458 to 70,365	40%
EUR 70,365 to 104,859	48%
EUR 104,859 to 1 million	50%
above EUR 1 million	55% (until 2029)

Capital income is generally taxed at a special rate of 27.5%, and interest on bank savings and current accounts at 25%. Double tax treaties may change the picture for pensions and foreign income, so I always involve a tax adviser before the move.