From 93,000 to 55,000: Austria reduces basic aid for asylum seekers
Austria has witnessed a significant decrease in asylum applications this year, with official figures showing a substantial decline compared to 2024. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 11,622 asylum applications were submitted between January and August, a decrease of 32 percent from last year, which recorded 17,171 applications. In August alone, 1,403 people applied, most of them from Afghanistan, although a small portion of these were first-time applications, while many were repeated requests or submitted on behalf of children born in Austria.
This decline reflects a broader trend across Europe. By the end of August 2025, 528,444 asylum applications were recorded on the continent, which is a 20 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024. While countries like Latvia, Luxembourg, and Croatia saw slight increases, sharp declines were recorded in Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. Austria currently ranks eleventh in asylum applications per capita and ninth in absolute numbers within the European Union.
In addition to the decline in applications, deportations have also increased. By the end of August, Austria had carried out more than 9,000 deportations, nearly half of which were voluntary departures. The Ministry of the Interior indicated that about 50 percent of those deported had previous criminal convictions. The 'Dublin' operations for returning asylum seekers to the European country responsible for their application continued, including Afghans, Syrians, and Algerians.
The number of people relying on basic social assistance in Austria has also decreased. Currently, 55,923 people are receiving support, a significant drop from nearly 93,000 in early 2023. The ministry, led by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, confirmed that reducing the number of federal accommodation centers from more than 30 to just eight has contributed to financial savings. Infrastructure at the borders has also been reduced, with the dismantling of facilities in Spielfeld and Nickelsdorf beginning as the number of illegal crossers declines.
Despite these numbers, government asylum policies remain controversial. The visit of a Taliban delegation to Austria, aimed at negotiating the deportation of convicted Afghan criminals, has drawn criticism from the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the Greens. Chancellor Christian Stöckl defended this move, emphasizing that it does not mean recognizing the Taliban regime but was necessary for the repatriation of criminals. In contrast, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) rejected the government's offer to reduce asylum applications, calling it "a mockery of the people." The party's secretary general, Michael Schnedlitz, accused Minister Karner of manipulating statistics and demanded his resignation, asserting that Austria remains an attractive destination for "social tourism" and that current measures are far from sufficient.