Bureaucratic obstacles for Syrians and Afghans compared to privileges for Ukrainians
The number of registered unemployed or enrolled in training courses in Austria rose to 436,160 people in February, bringing the issue of employment for asylum seekers back to the forefront of political and economic discussions. According to the Austrian news agency APA, asylum seekers in Austria are allowed to work after three months of submitting their application, but this is conditional on obtaining a work permit from the labor office and navigating complex bureaucratic procedures.
Asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries are subject to what is known as the 'substitute procedure', where the labor office first checks whether the job can be filled by an Austrian or European citizen or a person with permanent residency. This condition gives legal preference to permanent residents and makes it more difficult to employ asylum seekers. Experts believe that this procedure practically poses a significant barrier, as it requires time and administrative effort that leads many employers to withdraw.
In 2025, 3,086 work permits were issued to asylum seekers, while the number in previous years ranged between 775 and 3,839 permits. Data from the Ministry of Interior indicates a significant decline in asylum applications, with a total of 16,284 applications recorded in 2025, compared to about 59,000 applications in 2023.
The most notable distinction appears when comparing this group to refugees from Ukraine. Ukrainians are not subject to traditional individual asylum procedures, and since 2023, they do not need a work permit; instead, they receive a 'displaced person' card that grants them full rights to enter the labor market immediately. This legal status continues until March 4, 2027. Additionally, since October 2024, they have had the option to switch to the 'red-white-red plus' card, which opens the door to long-term residence, and then to 'permanent residence - European Union' after five years.
In contrast, Syrians, Afghans, and Iraqis do not have the ability to easily 'change course' if they receive a negative asylum decision, even if they are working and integrated into an Austrian company. If a final rejection decision is issued, they are required to leave, creating tension in the workplace and increasing companies' reluctance to hire them due to the risk of sudden deportation.
There is a limited exception for service work within shelters or public activities for municipalities, where a work permit is not required. However, these activities are considered simple jobs for a symbolic fee that usually ranges between 1.50 and 1.60 euros per hour, and are not considered regular employment in the labor market. Since 2024, asylum seekers are required to perform ten hours of public work per month, otherwise they may be deprived of pocket money.
Economists believe that allowing faster and broader access to the labor market reduces dependency costs and enhances integration, especially in light of demographic shifts and labor shortages in certain sectors. However, they warn of the risk of labor market segmentation if the employment of certain nationalities is limited to low-wage or low-skill sectors.
While Germany seeks to benefit from the Austrian experience in opening the labor market after three months, experts confirm that the current model in Austria is still complex and needs simplification, linking any expansion of job opportunities to effective language and integration programs that ensure real entry into the labor market, not just formal entry.