
Austria is halting all ongoing Syrian asylum procedures and reviewing all asylum approvals following the downfall of former President Bashar al-Assad, Chancellor Karl Nehammer has announced.
Posting on X, Nehammer said Austria would “support all Syrians who have found refuge in Austria and want to return to their home country”.
He has instructed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to suspend all decisions on asylum cases. Family reunifications will also be paused, Karner said. “In this context, I have instructed the ministry to prepare an organised repatriation and deportation programme to Syria,” Karner told ORF.
The Interior Ministry stressed that the situation in Syria is being monitored closely. Meanwhile, the European Commission has said the conditions for a safe return are not currently in place.
Austria is not alone in pausing Syrian asylum applications. Germany, France, the Nordic countries and the UK have taken similar steps.
The move comes in the wake of the collapse of the Assad regime after more than 50 years in power and over a decade of civil war. Since 2011, more than 14 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, according to the United Nations.
Around 13,000 Cases Still Open
At present, about 95,000 Syrian nationals are living in Austria, making them the largest group of refugees over the past twelve years.
Between 2015 and November 2024, 86,905 Syrians were granted asylum, while 17,421 received subsidiary protection.
As of 30 November 2024, there are 12,886 open cases involving Syrian citizens. Of these, 1,146 relate to family reunifications.
All existing asylum approvals are also to be re-examined. Asylum is initially granted for three years and only becomes a permanent residence permit after a subsequent review.
Calls for Caution
Lukas Gahleitner-Gerz from the Asylum Coordination group warned against acting too hastily. While Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown, it remains unclear whether there will be enduring changes in the country’s power structures, including its notorious intelligence services. A reassessment, he said, should only be considered if it can be ensured that returnees will not face persecution.