Linz 1947: How descendants of displaced persons camps discover they are eligible for Austrian citizenship
An article describing how descendants of Holocaust survivors who stayed in displaced persons camps in Austria are discovering new eligibility for Austrian citizenship, following supplementary regulations enacted about a year ago. Attorney Nir Lanker, an expert in Austrian foreign law, explains the removed restrictions, the search and application process, and the importance of choosing a lawyer listed on the Bar Association's expert roster.
An article focusing on new eligibility for Austrian citizenship opened to descendants of Holocaust survivors who stayed in displaced persons camps in Austria after World War II. Attorney Nir Lanker, an expert in Austrian foreign law, explains that previously Austrian citizenship law included restrictions that made naturalization difficult, such as gender discrimination and limitations on those who served in foreign public service. A 2019 amendment eased the path for descendants of Nazi refugees but excluded displaced persons camp residents, claiming they were not persecuted in Austria itself. Supplementary regulations from about a year ago opened the door for them as well. Lanker describes a real case of a family that only had an old photo captioned "Linz 1947," and after about two months of investigation, it was discovered that the grandfather had stayed in the Linz displaced persons camp between 1945 and 1948. Based on this information, an application was submitted for 20 family members, and after an 11-month wait, all received citizenship. Lanker emphasizes the importance of accurate verification and flawless application submission, as rejection could lead to an expensive appeal process. He recommends consulting only lawyers listed on the Bar Association's expert roster for Austrian foreign law.