On September 1, 2020, the first two applicants filing paperwork in order to obtain Austrian citizenship for descendants of victims of National Socialism were welcomed to the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC by Ambassador Martin Weiss and Consul General Sigrid Kodym-Herzberg.

Background:

In September 2019, the Austrian parliament unanimously adopted an amendment to the Austrian Nationality Act (sec 58c) in recognition of Austria’s historical responsibility and as a further gesture in its efforts to achieve reconciliation with the victims of National Socialism and their descendants.

Eligible descendants of victims of the National Socialist regime can claim Austrian citizenship since September 1, 2020 by means of a simple declaration. The victims themselves where already eligible to reclaim Austrian citizenship before. There exists no time limit to file the declaration for citizenship, which can also be done without an attorney.

Who is eligible?

• All former Austrian citizens as well as persons who were citizens of successor states of the former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy or stateless at the time, but had their residence in Austria, who were forced to leave Austria before May 15, 1955, because they had to fear or even suffered persecution by the NSDAP (National Socialist German Worker’s Party) or other authorities of the so-called “Third Reich” or they had to fear or suffered persecution because of defending the democratic Republic of Austria

• All descendants in the direct descending line (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren…) of the persecuted person (who meets the above-mentioned criteria), including children who were adopted as minors.

Further information can be found on the pages of the Embassy’s Consular Section

UPDATE:

Herzlich Willkommen! Ahead of Austria's National Day, Ambassador Martin Weiss received two of Austria's newest citizens at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC. In a solemn ceremony held on October 23, 2020, the Ambassador handed over the citizenship certificates to Craig and his son Brenner from Fairfax, VA. They are the first Americans who obtained Austrian citizenship under a new law granting citizenship to descendants of victims of National Socialism.