Number of Asylum Applications in Austria Continues to Decline

This corresponds to a decrease of 36.7 percent compared to the first half of the previous year, when 13,634 applications were registered. This continues the decline in asylum application numbers that has been ongoing since 2023. The peak was in 2022 with 32,351 asylum applications from the beginning of the year to the end of June.

The strict controls and the temporary halt in family reunification were also reflected in the numbers: In June 2024, there were still 732 actual entries, in June 2025 there were 61 actual entries. Afghanistan ranks first in the statistics. Here, 320 applications were submitted, of which 120 applications (around 37.5 percent) are new. The rest are follow-up applications or applications from children born in Austria. In total, 1,138 asylum applications were submitted in June. Compared to June of the previous year, this is a decrease of 730 applications or 39 percent.

Due to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, female beneficiaries of protection in Austria apply for asylum if only subsidiary protection was granted. The number of first-time asylum applications has also been declining across the EU for some time, although less sharply than in Austria. According to the Ministry of the Interior, a total of 23 percent fewer asylum applications were recorded in the European Union by the end of June compared to the same period of the previous year.

"Strict, Tough and Fair"

"Strict, tough and fair, that is the mandate for Austrian asylum policy, how to proceed here," reaffirmed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) on Monday at a press conference his motto. As a success example, he cited the 95 percent decrease in apprehensions at the Hungarian-Burgenland border, which is also thanks to a changed strategy in controls. There is also significant relief at the border with Germany, including in asylum applications.

Karner identifies a "positive development" in basic care. Here too, there is a "gradual decline" of around 14 percent in the first half of the year. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 58,400 people are currently in basic care, of which 32,200 are displaced persons from Ukraine. About three-quarters have complied with the work obligation, which links participation to the payment of pocket money.

No Cash in Three Federal States

The so-called benefit card will also be rolled out starting Monday. From today, there will be no more cash, emphasized Karner. The card can be loaded with pocket money or contributions for charitable work. This is intended to prevent misuse. The card was actually supposed to be introduced nationwide, but now only Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria are participating. Around 700 cards will be issued.

Federal Police Director Michael Takacs emphasized the effectiveness of cross-border measures against smuggling crime. "We have become unpredictable for organized crime," said Takacs. The Federal Office for Immigration also negatively decided or closed 15,656 cases in June. By the end of June, 915 people voluntarily waived protection and left Austria during the process.

FPÖ Criticizes "Soft" Asylum Policy

The FPÖ saw no reason to celebrate. In truth, the asylum policy is not "hard," as Karner often emphasizes, but "loose, soft, and above all anti-Austrian," criticized security spokesman Gernot Darmann in a statement.

(APA/Red)

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