This page compares two routes to a European citizenship that work in very different ways. Austria citizenship by exception is a rare, discretionary grant for exceptional services. North Macedonia citizenship by investment is a priced route whose practical use has been limited. We set out the position so it is clear.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Austria citizenship by exception is granted by the Federal Government for people who have rendered exceptional services to the Republic. It has no published price and is rare. North Macedonia citizenship by investment sets out investment amounts in law, but reports suggest limited take up and limited passport issuance. One is discretionary and merit based. The other is priced but contested in practice.
Austria sets no figure for citizenship by exception. It rests on exceptional contribution in fields such as business, science, the arts or sport, not on a fee. North Macedonia sets out two main routes in law, an investment of 200,000 euro into an approved private investment fund held for at least two years, or 400,000 euro as a direct investment that creates at least ten jobs. Confirm whether the route is genuinely operating, and the current figures, with the official authority before acting.
Austria citizenship by exception has no fixed timetable and each case must clear the Council of Ministers. North Macedonia has advertised short processing times, but because practical use has been limited you should not rely on advertised speeds. Verify the present position directly.
Austria is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, and the Austrian passport is among the strongest in the world. North Macedonia is not in the European Union. It is a candidate country and offers visa free travel to the Schengen Area, but it does not provide European Union citizenship or free movement.
Austria citizenship by exception suits only a very small group of globally significant individuals. North Macedonia citizenship by investment is presented as a lower cost European option, but the gap between the law and its practical use means it calls for careful checking. For most people neither is a simple route, and independent verification matters.
| Item | Austria Citizenship by Exception | North Macedonia Citizenship by Investment |
|---|---|---|
| What you receive | Citizenship, in rare cases | Citizenship, where the route operates |
| Price | No published price, discretionary | From 200,000 euro into an approved fund |
| Other route | Exceptional services to Austria | 400,000 euro direct investment creating ten jobs |
| European Union member | Yes | No, candidate country |
| Official authority | Federal Government of Austria | Fund for Innovation and Technology Development |
| Practical status | Open but rarely granted | In law but limited in practice |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Federal Government of Austria (Austria); Fund for Innovation and Technology Development of the Republic of North Macedonia (North Macedonia) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. Citizenship by exception is a discretionary grant for exceptional services, with no published price. Approval rests with the Federal Government and it is rarely given.
No. North Macedonia is not a member of the European Union. It is a candidate country, so its passport does not provide European Union citizenship or free movement, though it offers visa free travel to the Schengen Area.
The investment amounts exist in law, but reports suggest limited take up and limited passport issuance. Confirm whether the route is genuinely operating, and on what terms, with the official authority before committing.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The rules for this route changed recently. Confirm the current position with current guidance before you act.
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