An IMGW Feature Article by Audra De Falco
Past Meets Present
Last month, I sat across from Sarah, a retired professor from Boston, as she held her new Austrian passport for the first time. Her hands trembled slightly – not from age, but from emotion. “My grandmother left Vienna in 1938 with nothing but a suitcase,” she told me. “She never spoke about Austria without pain in her voice. Now, two generations later, I’m reclaiming something that was taken from her.”
In my professional work, I’ve witnessed countless similar moments – each representing not just a legal procedure completed but a historical circle closing. These moments of reconnection have taken on new significance in recent years, as global uncertainty has prompted many to reconsider the security and flexibility that multiple citizenships can provide and many Americans have found an open door to Europe simply by looking through their family trees.
The 2019 amendment to Austria’s citizenship law represents one of the most significant acknowledgments of historical injustice in Europe. For the first time, it opened a pathway for descendants of those persecuted during the Nazi era to reclaim their Austrian heritage without giving up their current nationality. This is not mere bureaucratic generosity – it’s a recognition that citizenship wrongfully taken should rightfully be restored, even generations later.
“I’m happy to reclaim this connection, but I’m aware that I’m only eligible because something terrible happened to my family. That creates mixed emotions.”
Understanding Austria’s Historical Reckoning
Pre-war Vienna was home to diverse communities that contributed to the country’s cultural and intellectual landscape. While Austrian Jews formed a significant part of this society, it’s crucial to remember that Nazi persecution targeted multiple groups. Roma and Sinti people, political dissidents, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and religious minorities including Jehovah’s Witnesses all faced systematic persecution. Each of these communities suffered immensely, and their descendants are equally eligible under the current citizenship restoration programme.
The Nazi annexation of Austria in March 1938 brought swift and brutal persecution. Within days, targeted groups faced harassment, property confiscation, and the revocation of their citizenship. By 1939, more than half of Austria’s Jewish population had fled, along with countless others from persecuted groups, many abandoning generations of family history and prosperity.
Austria’s post-war relationship with this history has been complicated. For decades, the country positioned itself as ‘Hitler’s first victim‘ rather than acknowledging widespread support for the Anschluss. Only in the 1990s did a more honest reckoning begin, culminating in various restitution programmes and, eventually, the 2019 citizenship restoration programme.
“We cannot undo the crimes of the past,” an Austrian ambassador noted at a recent citizenship ceremony. “But we can try to repair some of its consequences.” This sentiment drives the current programme—not erasing history, but addressing its ongoing impacts.
“They’re not abandoning America or making dramatic claims about its political trajectory. Rather, they’re engaging in sensible contingency planning, the same way one might diversify an investment portfolio against volatility.”
The Legal Pathway: Section 58c and Beyond
The 2019 amendment, specifically Section 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act, created eligibility for:
- Direct descendants of Austrian citizens who fled Austria before May 15, 1955, due to persecution by Nazi authorities
- Descendants of those who had been persecuted anywhere in the Austro-Hungarian Empire before 1919
- People born in Austria who were nationals of another country but resided in Austria and suffered persecution
Importantly, this law recognises the full spectrum of Nazi persecution. Whether ancestors were targeted for their religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or disability status, their descendants qualify under this provision. This inclusive approach acknowledges the wide-ranging nature of Nazi persecution beyond any single group.
Unlike previous provisions, this amendment allows for:
- Dual citizenship (previously prohibited under Austrian law)
- Claims through maternal and paternal lines
- Claims through adoption (in certain circumstances)
- Application without residence requirements or language tests
The paperwork can be substantial: birth and marriage certificates across generations, evidence of ancestor’s Austrian citizenship, and crucially, documentation of persecution or departure from Austria during the Nazi period.
While challenging, this evidence gathering often becomes a profound journey of discovery for families. One individual, a physician from Chicago, discovered through this process three previously unknown cousins living in Israel, descendants of a great-aunt who had survived the war.
Today’s Motivations for Reclaiming Citizenship
The recent surge in applications for Austrian citizenship (and European citizenship by descent more broadly) cannot be understood without acknowledging today’s political context. Multiple citizenship advisory firms report significant increases in inquiries over the past three years, with a particular acceleration since 2024.
Several European countries have issued travel advisories regarding the United States, citing concerns about political polarisation, civil unrest, and gun violence. While these advisories are typically measured in tone, they signal a shift in global perception that many Americans – particularly those with family histories of persecution – find deeply unsettling.
One applicant, a technology executive from Seattle, explained his motivation candidly: “My grandparents ignored warning signs once before. They almost didn’t get out in time. I don’t think we’re at that point, not remotely. But having options just feels prudent.”
This sentiment – seeking options without overreaction – characterises many applicants. They’re not abandoning America or making dramatic claims about its political trajectory. Rather, they’re engaging in sensible contingency planning, the same way one might diversify an investment portfolio against volatility.
For descendants of those persecuted during the Nazi era, this sensitivity to political warning signs often runs deep. Many grew up hearing family stories that began with dismissed concerns that later proved tragic. This historical antenna, while sometimes hypertuned, represents an inheritance of caution that’s understandable in context.
The European Advantage
An Austrian passport offers significant practical advantages beyond its emotional resonance:
- Freedom to live, work, and study in any EU country without visa restrictions
- Access to Austria’s excellent healthcare system and social benefits after establishing residence
- Educational opportunities, including nearly free university tuition throughout much of the EU
- Enhanced travel mobility, with visa-free access to 188 countries worldwide
- Business and investment opportunities throughout the European Union
- A safety net during times of global uncertainty
For many, the decision to pursue Austrian citizenship involves both honoring their family’s past and planning for their children’s future. One applicant, after receiving her citizenship at the Austrian consulate, reflected: “This is for my daughter. She’ll grow up knowing she has choices, knowing her history, knowing she belongs in multiple places.”
The Personal Journey
The technical aspects of citizenship applications form only part of the story. For many individuals, the process triggers profound reflection on identity, belonging, and historical reconciliation.
Michael, a doctor from California whose grandfather fled Vienna as a teenager, described receiving his Austrian citizenship as “complicated joy”. He explained: “I’m happy to reclaim this connection, but I’m aware that I’m only eligible because something terrible happened to my family. That creates mixed emotions.”
Many report similar complexity in their feelings. There’s pride in reclaiming what was taken, grief for what was lost, and sometimes discomfort with a country that was once hostile to their family. Yet most find that the process ultimately brings healing rather than reopening wounds.
As Claire, a recent recipient of Austrian citizenship, observed after visiting Vienna with her new passport: “Walking the streets my ancestors once walked, now as a citizen rather than an outsider, gave me a sense of completion. Something that was broken has been mended, not perfectly, but meaningfully.”
Austrian society itself has largely embraced these returning descendants. Community organisations and government offices often host special ceremonies welcoming new citizens, acknowledging both the painful history and the hopeful reconciliation that each new passport represents.
Practical Guidance for Potential Applicants
For those considering this path, I recommend:
- Start with genealogical research: Document your family tree, focusing on your Austrian ancestor and their departure circumstances. Archives in Vienna, online databases like Yad Vashem for Jewish ancestry, the Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance for political dissidents, or the Cultural Association of Austrian Roma for Roma ancestry can provide crucial information.
- Gather documentation: Birth, marriage, and death certificates across generations may take time to obtain. Start with what’s accessible and work methodically.
- Consider specialized legal assistance: The application process involves nuanced interpretation of Austrian law. Many applicants work with professionals experienced specifically in Austrian citizenship claims.
- Prepare for emotional complexity: Many applicants find the process stirs unexpected feelings about family history and identity. Creating space for this emotional dimension is important.
Once documentation is gathered and handed in to Austrian officials, recognition usually takes four to six months, though this may vary.
Looking Forward While Honoring the Past
In times of global uncertainty, having multiple citizenships offers not just practical advantages but psychological security. The knowledge that one has legal belonging in multiple places provides resilience against unpredictable political shifts or economic challenges.
For descendants of those persecuted, this resilience carries special significance. It represents the restoration of something once forcibly taken: the fundamental right to belong, to claim one’s heritage, and to pass that belonging securely to future generations.
The Austrian citizenship restoration programme reminds us that while we cannot undo history, we can acknowledge its ongoing effects and take meaningful steps toward repair. Each new passport issued represents not just a legal document, but a small victory against historical injustice. A statement that what was wrongfully taken can, in some measure, be rightfully returned.
For those qualified to pursue this path, the journey offers both practical benefits and profound reconciliation. As Sarah reflected, holding her new passport: “This doesn’t erase what happened, but it helps write a new chapter. My grandmother would be amazed to see Austria welcoming her descendants home.”
𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓
Audra De Falco is one of the world’s foremost experts on citizenship by descent. Having built her practice since 2003, she has put European passports in the hands of more than 2,000 clients. Today, she is Director of Citizenship by Descent for Latitude World, a boutique citizenship and residency consulting firm.
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