This article describes the history of the Jews in Austria, especially in the capital Vienna; the numbers of Jews who emigrated from the country over the years; the countries they immigrated to; and the number of eligible people in the world today. After reading this article, if you are still not sure whether or not you are eligible, contact us and we will gladly assist you.<\/p>\n
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Austrian citizenship eligibility \u2013 questions and answers<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Austrian \u201cLaw of Return\u201d calls on descendants of Austrian citizens who were persecuted by the Nazis to exercise their eligibility for citizenship. First, it is important to know something about the number of eligible people in the world; where they currently reside; and what the criteria are for receiving an Austrian passport. Here are some common questions on the subject:<\/p>\n
\n- How many people worldwide are eligible for Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This number is estimated at about 200,000.<\/p>\n
\n- Where do most of the eligible people currently reside?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most of them currently live in Israel, the USA, Britain, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and Italy. There are smaller numbers of eligible people in South Africa, Central American countries and others.<\/p>\n
\n- When did most of the Austrian Jews leave the country and where did they go? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Between the years 1938-1945, a total of 126,500 Jews out of a population of 176,000 managed to leave the country. Of these, 55,000 of them fled to other European countries; 30,840 immigrated to Britain; 28,650 to the USA; 18,050 to China (most of them to the port city Shanghai<\/a>); 11,600 to South and Central America; and almost 10,000 to the Land of Israel.<\/p>\nThe rest found shelter in over eighty different countries around the world. Of those who fled to other European countries, 17,610 reached places which were later conquered by the Germans, and close to 13,000 eventually died in concentration camps.<\/p>\n
Obtaining Austrian citizenship for Holocaust survivors<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 questions and answers <\/strong><\/h2>\nMany clients ask us whether it is possible to obtain Austrian citizenship if their ancestors lived in Austria. Yes. <\/strong>But it depends on when <\/strong>they lived there and when they left the country. In more detail:<\/p>\n\n- Can anyone whose ancestors were formerly Austrian receive the citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No. It only applies to the years during which the Third Reich was in power.<\/p>\n
\n- When did the Third Reich come into power?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
From the year 1933 until 1945.<\/p>\n
\n- Meaning, if my ancestors lived in Austria in those years I am eligible for Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Right. If your ancestors were in Austria between 1933-1945 and left it between 1933-1955, you are eligible.<\/p>\n
\n- Does the term \u201cancestors\u201d refer to a limited number of generations?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No, there is no generational limit.![\"Austrian](\"https:\/\/lawfirmbackup_200125.k1uagm.ap-southeast-2.wpstaqhosting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/flag-austria-with-ensign-300x200.jpg\")
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\n- My grandmother was a victim of Nazi persecution. But my father \u2013 the grandmother\u2019s son \u2013 is not interested in obtaining a passport. Can I file an application for myself?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes. Any eligible person can apply for an Austrian passport without their parents needing to obtain citizenship first.<\/p>\n
\n- Does the law apply to adopted children as well?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes, as long as the children were adopted as minors.<\/u><\/p>\n\n- Are the great-grandchildren of a person who lived in Austria in the years 1933-1945 eligible for a passport if the great-grandparent did not have Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes. Due to the anti-semitism prevalent in the 20s and 30s, the Austrian authorities did not recognize many Jews as citizens with equal rights, and so were not quick to grant them citizenship. Today, the Austrian state recognizes the injustice it perpetrated, and the descendants of these people can receive citizenship.<\/p>\n
\n- If my grandfather was born in Austria in 1947 \u2013 after the end of the war \u2013 am I eligible?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No. The eligibility only applies if the persecution victim was born up to 1945.<\/p>\n
\n- Can my husband apply for citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If your husband is not a descendant of someone who was persecuted in Austria by the Nazi authorities and\/or their allies, he cannot apply for citizenship.<\/p>\n
\n- Am I eligible if my parents were not victims who were persecuted by the Nazis, but fled Austria before 1955?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes, if your ancestors left the country because of anti-semitic persecution or fear of persecution, you are still eligible. Descendants of Jews will usually not be required to prove that their ancestors were persecuted or feared persecution.<\/p>\n
The next part of this article deals with the subject of mandatory and career military service.<\/p>\n
Military background \u2013 who can receive Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
This number is estimated at about 200,000.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Where do most of the eligible people currently reside?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most of them currently live in Israel, the USA, Britain, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and Italy. There are smaller numbers of eligible people in South Africa, Central American countries and others.<\/p>\n
- \n
- When did most of the Austrian Jews leave the country and where did they go? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Between the years 1938-1945, a total of 126,500 Jews out of a population of 176,000 managed to leave the country. Of these, 55,000 of them fled to other European countries; 30,840 immigrated to Britain; 28,650 to the USA; 18,050 to China (most of them to the port city Shanghai<\/a>); 11,600 to South and Central America; and almost 10,000 to the Land of Israel.<\/p>\n
The rest found shelter in over eighty different countries around the world. Of those who fled to other European countries, 17,610 reached places which were later conquered by the Germans, and close to 13,000 eventually died in concentration camps.<\/p>\n
Obtaining Austrian citizenship for Holocaust survivors<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 questions and answers <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Many clients ask us whether it is possible to obtain Austrian citizenship if their ancestors lived in Austria. Yes. <\/strong>But it depends on when <\/strong>they lived there and when they left the country. In more detail:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Can anyone whose ancestors were formerly Austrian receive the citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No. It only applies to the years during which the Third Reich was in power.<\/p>\n
- \n
- When did the Third Reich come into power?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
From the year 1933 until 1945.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Meaning, if my ancestors lived in Austria in those years I am eligible for Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Right. If your ancestors were in Austria between 1933-1945 and left it between 1933-1955, you are eligible.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Does the term \u201cancestors\u201d refer to a limited number of generations?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No, there is no generational limit.
<\/p>\n- \n
- My grandmother was a victim of Nazi persecution. But my father \u2013 the grandmother\u2019s son \u2013 is not interested in obtaining a passport. Can I file an application for myself?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes. Any eligible person can apply for an Austrian passport without their parents needing to obtain citizenship first.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Does the law apply to adopted children as well?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes, as long as the children were adopted as minors.<\/u><\/p>\n
- \n
- Are the great-grandchildren of a person who lived in Austria in the years 1933-1945 eligible for a passport if the great-grandparent did not have Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes. Due to the anti-semitism prevalent in the 20s and 30s, the Austrian authorities did not recognize many Jews as citizens with equal rights, and so were not quick to grant them citizenship. Today, the Austrian state recognizes the injustice it perpetrated, and the descendants of these people can receive citizenship.<\/p>\n
- \n
- If my grandfather was born in Austria in 1947 \u2013 after the end of the war \u2013 am I eligible?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
No. The eligibility only applies if the persecution victim was born up to 1945.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Can my husband apply for citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If your husband is not a descendant of someone who was persecuted in Austria by the Nazi authorities and\/or their allies, he cannot apply for citizenship.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Am I eligible if my parents were not victims who were persecuted by the Nazis, but fled Austria before 1955?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Yes, if your ancestors left the country because of anti-semitic persecution or fear of persecution, you are still eligible. Descendants of Jews will usually not be required to prove that their ancestors were persecuted or feared persecution.<\/p>\n
The next part of this article deals with the subject of mandatory and career military service.<\/p>\n
Military background \u2013 who can receive Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- Am I eligible if my parents were not victims who were persecuted by the Nazis, but fled Austria before 1955?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Can my husband apply for citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- If my grandfather was born in Austria in 1947 \u2013 after the end of the war \u2013 am I eligible?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Are the great-grandchildren of a person who lived in Austria in the years 1933-1945 eligible for a passport if the great-grandparent did not have Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Does the law apply to adopted children as well?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- My grandmother was a victim of Nazi persecution. But my father \u2013 the grandmother\u2019s son \u2013 is not interested in obtaining a passport. Can I file an application for myself?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Does the term \u201cancestors\u201d refer to a limited number of generations?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Meaning, if my ancestors lived in Austria in those years I am eligible for Austrian citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- When did the Third Reich come into power?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Can anyone whose ancestors were formerly Austrian receive the citizenship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- When did most of the Austrian Jews leave the country and where did they go? <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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