Naturalization denied for a father and his child due to a 13-year-old crime
The authorities in Salzburg rejected a man's request for Austrian citizenship for himself and his young child due to criminal convictions dating back more than ten years. The administrative court in Salzburg upheld the rejection decision, based on the law that requires no criminal convictions to obtain citizenship.
The man, a construction worker in his early thirties holding a permanent residence "Daueraufenthalt EU", applied for citizenship in August 2023. However, investigations revealed two convictions: the first in 2012 for intentionally causing serious bodily harm, where he participated in a knife attack that resulted in injuries to the victim's face, shoulder, and hand, and the second in 2015 for property damage.
The man said that the convictions had been erased and that he had not committed any crime for more than ten years. However, the court clarified that the criminal record would not be erased until 2027, which means he is currently not eligible to apply for citizenship.
The court also pointed out that there are still recorded administrative traffic violations, which prevents a positive prediction of his future behavior.
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