The Austrian Ministry of the Interior is speeding up the temporary halt on family reunifications for asylum seekers, as agreed in the coalition government’s agreement. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) will inform EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner and his EU counterparts about the plan during a meeting on Wednesday. Karner will also submit a letter to the Commission outlining the proposal.
As the Interior Minister emphasized in an interview with APA, the decision was made to introduce a quota system, with the first quota set to be zero.
In 2024, 7,760 people arrived in Austria through family reunification, while in 2023, the number was 9,254. There was a significant peak in the spring of 2024 when up to 1,300 people arrived in some months as part of the family reunification process. To provide context, Austria approved 16,784 asylum applications in total in 2024, compared to 17,239 the previous year.
Majority of Applicants Are Children
The Interior Minister emphasized that a large proportion of those affected by family reunification are children, putting pressure on the education system in Austria. Therefore, Austria will invoke Article 72 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and suspend family reunification. Family reunifications had already been reduced by the suspension of all Syrian applications due to the change in government in Damascus.
Vienna’s Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) supports the Interior Minister’s actions. Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) expressed satisfaction with the move, stating, “We, as a city, have been particularly affected in recent years, especially since we are the only real large city in Austria.” He pointed out that the rapid family reunification process by the federal government had previously caught the city off guard, creating challenges in areas like education. “If this is now extended over time, it will definitely be helpful in terms of integration,” Ludwig concluded. He expressed confidence that the approach could be organized in line with EU law.
Duration of the Pause Unclear
The government has not communicated how long the family reunification suspension will last. If the system becomes overloaded, the government has even suggested that in the future, asylum applications might not be accepted at all.
Family reunification in Austria is structured so that recognized asylum seekers can apply immediately for family reunification once granted refugee status. Family members must contact the Austrian mission in the country they are residing in and request a visa. If approved, the family member can enter Austria for four months and apply for international protection here. Eligible family members include spouses, registered partners, and minor children of recognized asylum seekers or those granted subsidiary protection. Parents of a child who has already arrived in Austria are also eligible.
