Asylum Applications in Austria Significantly Decreased: Lowest Level Since 2020
March was the month with the fewest applications since July 2020, with 1,329. It is particularly noticeable that the number of first-time applications is currently very low. Only about one in three applications is new.
The remaining applications are generally for higher status (from subsidiary protection to asylum), asylum for children born in Austria, or family reunification. This trend is particularly evident among Afghan citizens. Of 504 applications, only 93 are new. This is still influenced by a decision of the ECJ, according to which no individual procedure is required for Afghan women. Therefore, many apply for asylum in Austria when only subsidiary protection has been granted so far.
Hardly Any New Applications from Syrians
There are also significantly more follow-up applications than new ones among Syrians (268 compared to 58). This is also due to the fact that Austria continues to accept applications from Syrians, but generally does not process them as long as it is unclear how the political situation will develop after the coup in Damascus. This also applies to family reunification, which is to be suspended altogether for at least a year by law and regulation. Incidentally, more than 50 percent of asylum applications this year have come from minors.
There are now 12,918 open procedures for Syrians. They are followed by Afghans with 4,112. In total, there are just under 15,300.
Asylum in More Than 2,000 Cases
Asylum was granted in 2,120 cases in the first three months. In addition, subsidiary protection was granted 451 times, and humanitarian residence was granted in 299 cases. Afghans were by far the group most frequently granted residence in Austria. Almost 1,500 people were granted asylum titles this year alone. For Syrians, it was only 77.
Meanwhile, the number of applications also decreased across Europe. In the Union, 210,641 asylum applications were filed by the end of March, a decrease of 19 percent. Contrary to the trend, the number of applications increased in Poland, Croatia, Luxembourg, and Belgium. Adjusted for population, Austria now ranks only tenth in the Europe-wide statistics.
Nevertheless, basic care remains heavily utilized. At the beginning of April, more than 65,000 people were being cared for accordingly. After all, that is almost 3,000 fewer people than at the beginning of the year. 55 percent of those receiving basic care are displaced persons from Ukraine.
(APA/Red)
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