Austria recorded a continued decline in asylum applications during the first four months of 2026, with applications down 45 percent compared with the same period last year.
Between January and April, 3,397 asylum applications were submitted. In every month, the decrease remained above 41 percent, with April matching the overall average decline of 45 percent.
Only 1,410 of the applications were classified as original applications, meaning they were submitted by newly arrived individuals. The remaining applications included cases such as children born after their families had already arrived in Austria. As a result, children aged zero to seven represented by far the largest age group in the statistics, accounting for more than 42 percent of all applications.
Syrians made up the largest group overall, although 736 of the 856 applications filed by Syrian citizens were not original applications. Afghans submitted the highest number of original applications during the first four months of the year.
Fewer People In State Care
The number of people receiving Austria’s basic welfare support for asylum seekers and displaced persons also declined gradually. At the beginning of May, the system was supporting 48,281 people, around 4,600 fewer than at the start of the year. Most of those receiving support are displaced people from Ukraine.
Among those in state care were 1,126 unaccompanied minor refugees. During the first four months of the year, 57 unaccompanied minors arrived in Austria, including one child under the age of 14.
Somalia was the most common country of origin among unaccompanied minors. Of the 16 female refugees in this category, 11 came from Somalia. Somali nationals also made up the largest group among male unaccompanied minors.
More Than 5,000 Protection Statuses Granted
Austria granted protection status in 5,041 cases during the first four months of 2026. Subsidiary protection was granted slightly more often than full asylum status.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) described the overall development as positive. In a written statement, he said the focus remains on combating abuse and protecting the asylum system in order to help those who genuinely need assistance.
