Syrians top the list of naturalized citizens in Austria amid rising numbers
A total of 2,319 Syrians living in Austria received Austrian citizenship during the first half of 2026, making Syrians the largest foreign nationality among people naturalized during the period.
Austria granted citizenship to 13,700 people between January and June, including 9,750 who were living in the country when they became citizens. Another 3,950 people were living outside Austria at the time. Syrians accounted for 24 percent of all naturalized people residing in Austria.
Turkish nationals ranked second with 1,058 new citizens, followed by Afghans with 968, Iranians with 433, and people from Bosnia and Herzegovina with 407. Together, these five nationalities represented around 53 percent of all naturalized residents during the first six months of the year.
Overall, the number of naturalizations in Austria increased by 17 percent compared with the same period in 2025, representing 2,035 more cases. The increase was even stronger among people living inside Austria, where naturalizations rose by 34 percent year-on-year.
Official figures from Statistics Austria (Statistik Austria) show that many people received citizenship after meeting requirements linked to long-term residence, German-language knowledge and sustainable integration. A total of 4,829 people who had lived in Austria for at least six years were naturalized, an increase of 32 percent compared with the first half of 2025.
Women accounted for 6,692 of the new citizens, or around 49 percent, while 4,429 were under the age of 18. More than one-fifth of those naturalized — 3,080 people — were born in Austria.
The increase has also sparked political debate. Martin Antauer, an FPÖ (Freedom Party of Austria) politician responsible for asylum issues in Lower Austria, criticized the rising number of naturalizations and called for tougher citizenship rules. He has advocated extending the required period of legal residence to 20 years and restricting citizenship eligibility for certain asylum seekers, temporary residents and people without legal immigration status.
Despite the political criticism, official figures indicate that more than two-thirds of those naturalized — 9,696 people — were granted citizenship on the basis of a legal entitlement. The data also shows that many had lived in Austria for years and met requirements involving language skills and integration.
The figures do not mean that all 2,319 Syrians received citizenship because of their refugee status. Austrian citizenship can be obtained through several legal routes, and applicants must meet the requirements applicable to their individual circumstances. The latest numbers nevertheless place Syrians clearly at the top of Austria’s naturalization statistics for the first half of 2026.