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VIENNA — Austria’s government is maintaining its hard-line stance on migration by sharply limiting family reunification arrivals, allowing only 314 people to enter the country under the scheme in both 2026 and 2027, according to new Interior Ministry regulations sent for consultation on Friday.
The move marks a dramatic reduction from recent years. In 2024, around 6,000 people arrived in Austria through family reunification, while two years earlier the figure stood at 9,254. The new quota does not include 60 cases classified as “absolute humanitarian hardships” that were already approved this year.
The policy follows Austria’s decision in March 2025 to halt family reunification. However, the original regulation expired during the summer, creating what officials described as a legally unsustainable situation. The new measures are intended to establish a clearer legal framework while preserving strict limits on arrivals.
Pressure on Schools and Municipal Services
The government argues that high levels of migration have placed significant strain on local authorities, particularly in Vienna. Education authorities have faced challenges accommodating newly arrived children, including providing classroom space, teaching staff and language support.
During the 2023/24 school year, approximately 3,200 foreign pupils joined Vienna’s schools. Many arrived during the school year and had to be integrated into suitable classes at short notice.
Vienna also reported that 44.6% of first-grade primary school pupils in the 2024/25 school year were classified as “extraordinary students,” a category applied to children with insufficient German-language skills. The classification reflects language-support needs rather than nationality or migration status, but it has become a focal point in the broader debate over integration and educational capacity.
Quota Based on Capacity Assessment
According to the Interior Ministry, the figure of 314 arrivals was not chosen arbitrarily. Officials said the quota was calculated based on pending applications and a broader assessment of the impact of migration on schools, social services and the labour market.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner of the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) said the “low quota” is intended to protect key public systems, particularly education, from further overload while also supporting measures aimed at reducing youth crime.
Family reunification has become one of Austria’s most contentious domestic political issues. In 2023, a total of 14,031 people applied to enter the country through the scheme, while 10,624 applications were approved. Authorities note that not every applicant granted permission ultimately relocates to Austria.
Coalition Partners Defend Policy
Representatives of the governing coalition defended the restrictions as necessary to balance humanitarian obligations with integration capacity.
State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) said Austria remained a country willing to provide assistance, but argued that the agreed quota demonstrated that “security, order and humanity belong together.”
Meanwhile, Sophie Wotschke, asylum spokesperson for the liberal NEOS party, said migration could only occur at a scale that allows successful integration, pointing to the challenges faced by Vienna’s schools as evidence that many institutions had reached the limits of their capacity.
The new regulations effectively transform Austria’s previous family reunification freeze into a long-term admissions cap, underscoring the government’s commitment to stricter migration controls amid continuing concerns about integration and public-service capacity.
- source: krone.at/picture: pixabay.com
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