The Local surveyed citizenship authorities in Vienna and Graz to find out how long the naturalisation process really takes in 2025 - and why waiting times vary so much. While some people receive their citizenship within a year of applying, others face much longer delays, particularly in Vienna, which handles most applications and has some of the longest waiting times in Austria. In 2024, applicants in Vienna waited an average of 323 days just to get an appointment to submit their application, the city's citizenship department, MA 35, told The Local.