Verhindern Parkstrafen die Einbürgerung?

In der Regel nicht. Parkstrafen und einzelne kleine Verkehrsübertretungen gelten als geringfügig. Anders kann es bei schweren Verkehrsdelikten oder wiederholten gleichartigen Verstößen sein.

Wann ist eine Verwaltungsstrafe getilgt?

Fünf Jahre nach Rechtskraft (§ 55 VStG). Das Verhalten dahinter darf die Behörde bei der Einbürgerung trotzdem berücksichtigen. Wichtig ist, wie lange Sie sich seither wohlverhalten haben.

Wie lange habe ich Zeit für einen Einspruch gegen eine Strafverfügung?

Zwei Wochen ab Zustellung (§ 49 VStG). Der Einspruch kann auch mündlich erhoben werden. Er kann sich gegen die Strafe selbst, ihre Höhe oder die Kosten richten.

Zählt eine Strafe, die ich als Geschäftsführer bekommen habe?

Sie wird berücksichtigt, wiegt aber meist weniger schwer: Haben Sie die Übertretung nicht selbst begangen, spricht das gegen eine negative Prognose über Ihre Person.

Administrative penalties and naturalisation.

Parking tickets, traffic fines, a penalty order (Strafverfügung): in naturalisation cases, the authority also looks at administrative offences. Not every penalty is an obstacle, but each one has to be classified correctly.

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Quick guide

What would you like to know?

In short

In naturalisation cases, the authority also examines administrative penalties.
Parking fines and individual minor offences are usually not an obstacle. Serious or repeated violations can be.
What matters is how long you have kept to the rules since then.
Against a penalty order (Strafverfügung): objection within two weeks.

§ 10 para 1 no 6 StbG

What the authority looks at

Citizenship is only granted to someone whose overall conduct suggests that they will not disregard essential rules protecting public order and security in future (§ 10 para 1 no 6 StbG). To do so, the authority must make a forecast. The standard is stricter than in immigration law, because citizenship is meant to be the conclusion of successful integration.

The time of the decision is what counts, not the day on which you filed the application.

Classification

How different penalties count

Serious: violent and drug offences, repeated violations of the same kind, offences committed recently
Relevant, but usually not decisive on its own: serious traffic offences, offences committed after earlier convictions
Minor: parking fines and individual minor traffic offences. Even a law-abiding person can commit a minor administrative offence once.
Usable only to a limited extent: expunged penalties, proceedings closed by diversion, a police barring order under § 38a SPG (an indication, not proof)

A mere reference to entries on record is not enough for a refusal. The authority must establish and assess the type, seriousness and circumstances of each incident.

Time elapsed

When the penalty is further in the past

Administrative penalties are expunged under § 55 VStG. The authority may still take the conduct behind it into account. That makes it all the more important how long you have kept to the rules since then, counted up to the decision. A few months are not enough. If the incident was years ago, the authority must give reasons why it still makes a negative forecast.

Managing director

Penalty as a managing director

If you were penalised as a managing director or responsible representative (§ 9 VStG), you did not commit the offence yourself. That speaks against a negative forecast about you personally.

Penalty order

Object now?

Against a penalty order you can file an objection (Einspruch) within two weeks of service, against the penalty itself, its amount or the costs. Check name, date and place: formal errors can also be a ground. Before a naturalisation application, an objection can be worthwhile even for small penalties.

Against a penalty decision (Straferkenntnis), you can file an appeal (Beschwerde) with the administrative court within four weeks of service. It is filed with the authority that imposed the penalty. For small fines, a revision to the Supreme Administrative Court (VwGH) is often excluded (§ 25a para 4 VwGG).

Before the application

Know all entries on record

Before applying, collect all penalties of recent years. Transfers to the city authority (Magistrat), the police or the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) on the bank statements you submit as proof of income can point to penalties you no longer remember. Anyone who does not fulfil the integration agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung) in time also risks an administrative penalty.

From our practice: A client was told to pay €950 for allegedly transporting children without a child seat. He had not even driven the car in question. After our objection, the Regional Police Directorate (Landespolizeidirektion) discontinued the proceedings. Read the case (in German) →

Questions we get asked

Administrative penalties and naturalisation: short answers

Do parking fines prevent naturalisation?

As a rule, no. Parking fines and individual minor traffic offences count as minor. It can be different for serious traffic offences or repeated violations of the same kind.

When is an administrative penalty expunged?

Five years after it becomes final (§ 55 VStG). In naturalisation cases, the authority may still take the conduct behind it into account. What matters is how long you have kept to the rules since then.

How long do I have to object to a penalty order?

Two weeks from service (§ 49 VStG). The objection can also be made orally. It can be directed against the penalty itself, its amount or the costs.

Does a penalty I received as a managing director count?

It is taken into account but usually weighs less: if you did not commit the offence yourself, that speaks against a negative forecast about you personally.

Initial consultation at a flat fee

We classify every entry on record, tell you whether and when an application has a chance and take action against a negative forecast by the authority.

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Deadlines for administrative penalties

Until when can you object or appeal?

Choose what the heading of your letter says.

What have you received?

Penalty order (Strafverfügung)Objection, two weeks

Penalty decision (Straferkenntnis)Appeal, four weeks

I do not knowHow to tell

Administrative penalties can also play a role for citizenship. Requirements for naturalisation →

For guidance only. This is not legal advice. Deadlines under § 49 VStG and § 7 para 4 VwGVG. If a deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday, Good Friday or 24 December, the next working day applies (§ 33 para 2 AVG, § 24 VStG). As of October 2026, source: RIS.