Citizenship by Exceptional Contribution

Program Overview

Austria's Citizenship by Exceptional Contribution (Section 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act) is the most prestigious and exclusive citizenship-by-investment route in Europe — and arguably in the world. It grants full Austrian citizenship, and with it full EU citizenship, to individuals who make an extraordinary contribution to the Republic of Austria, evaluated on a strictly case-by-case basis by the Austrian federal government.

The Austrian passport is consistently ranked among the world's top five most powerful travel documents, providing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 190 countries and territories — including the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and all EU member states. As an EU citizen, an Austrian passport holder has the unrestricted right to live, work, establish businesses, and access public services anywhere across the 27-nation European Union and in Switzerland under bilateral agreements.

The programme has no published minimum investment threshold — contributions are evaluated individually and are understood to be in the range of several million euros, with the exact amount determined by the economic significance of the contribution to Austria. The programme is not widely marketed and is accessible only to individuals of exceptional standing. Successful applicants have included major investors in Austrian industry, founders of significant Austrian businesses, and individuals who have made transformative contributions to Austrian culture, science, or sport.

Key Highlights

Suited For

Eligibility Requirements

• Extraordinary contribution to the Republic of Austria — economic, scientific, cultural, or artistic
• Contribution must be of exceptional and lasting benefit to Austria, not merely a financial transaction
• Clean criminal record — among the most rigorous background checks of any citizenship programme
• No prior adverse immigration history with Austria or the EU
• Application evaluated individually by the Austrian federal government — no standardised criteria
• Dual citizenship is permitted under this route — Austria does not require renunciation of existing citizenship
• The programme is not publicly advertised — access is typically through specialist advisory firms with established government relationships

Investment Options

Key Benefits

• Austrian passport: top-5 globally — visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 190+ countries
• Full EU citizenship: unrestricted right to live, work, and do business anywhere in the 27-nation EU
• Settlement rights in Switzerland under EU-Swiss bilateral agreements
• Dual citizenship permitted — no requirement to renounce existing citizenship
• Citizenship is hereditary — passed to children and future generations
• Spouse and dependent children included in the naturalisation
• Austria's stable, prosperous economy and exceptional quality of life
• One of the world's most exclusive citizenships — held by a very small number of individuals globally