Extension of the family reunification suspension for an additional 6 months
The Austrian cabinet decided to extend the family reunification freeze for an additional six months, according to the protocol of Wednesday's session, noting that the decision requires the approval of the main committee in the National Council, which will meet later today.
According to the decision, family reunification applications for those with protection and asylum will remain suspended for an additional six months, which practically means the continued freeze on the processing of these applications in the upcoming period.
The asylum law states that the suspension of family reunification applications can be extended a maximum of three times, each time for up to six months, provided that it does not exceed the date of 30.09.2026 at the latest. The first regulatory provision in this regard came into effect on 03.07.2025 for a period of six months, and it was supposed to end at the beginning of this January.
The law allows for limited exceptions that respect private and family life, particularly in cases that require the presence of a suitable reference person to accompany minors at the place of residence.
The regulation requires the government to provide written justifications to the main committee in the National Council regarding the existence of a threat to public order, which the government justified, as in the previous decision issued in July, by what it described as excessive pressure on the systems due to family reunification, according to the Austrian news agency.