Sharp Decline in Asylum Applications Recorded in Austria

The latest data from Austria's Interior Ministry indicates a significant decrease in asylum applications throughout 2025, with October marking the most notable reduction compared to the same period in the previous year. In October, authorities received 1,293 asylum requests, representing a 49 percent decrease from October 2024. Over the first ten months of the year, a total of 14,325 applications were submitted, equating to a drop of approximately one-third year-on-year.

Analysis of the demographic distribution reveals that Syrians submitted the highest number of applications during October. Notably, a substantial proportion of these, specifically 220 out of 359, were filed on behalf of children born in Austria. More broadly, minors continue to make up the largest segment of asylum seekers in Austria. Nearly one-third of all applications in 2025 were for children under seven, and over half of all applicants were minors.

The statistics also show a stark decrease in the number of individuals entering Austria through family reunification channels. This process has slowed considerably due to more restrictive policies allowing only exceptional cases. In October, just nine people entered Austria under family reunification provisions, a steep decline from the 384 recorded in the same month last year. Despite these figures, some political parties have voiced continued criticism of the policy's effectiveness, noting that a total of 921 family reunification requests were approved in 2025, with nearly 60 percent involving applicants from Afghanistan and Syria.

Regarding asylum approval rates, Afghan nationals currently have a high likelihood of being granted asylum, with 75 percent of Afghan applications approved. This is despite the recent resumption of deportations of men to Afghanistan. In contrast, Syrian applicants face more challenging prospects, as only 21 percent of their applications have resulted in a positive decision.

So far in 2025, Austria has granted some form of protection status over 10,000 times. The majority, nearly 7,200 cases, relate to full asylum status, while around 1,800 individuals received subsidiary protection. The remaining approvals pertain to humanitarian residence permits. An important development has been the impact of a recent European Court of Justice ruling, which has made it easier for Afghan women to obtain asylum in Austria. Consequently, more than half of the Afghan nationals granted protection this year have been women.

Austria's basic welfare system is also experiencing easing pressures. Currently, 54,702 people are supported by this system, including more than 30,000 Ukrainian refugees. This marks a significant reduction compared to the nearly 93,000 individuals relying on basic support at the beginning of 2023 and over 68,000 at the start of this year.

Officials attribute the decline in asylum applications to enhanced border controls and a shift in the routes taken by people smugglers, who are reportedly avoiding Austria. The Interior Ministry has emphasized the need for continued technical and tactical improvements to border security, with the ultimate aim of reducing illegal migration as much as possible.