Austria

Austria is a country of immigration, with its population growing steadily since 2002 primarily due to  positive net migration. In January 2025, around 20.2% (some 1,855 million) of Austria’s population were foreign citizens, with the largest groups coming from Germany, Romania, Türkiye, Serbia and Hungary. Without immigration, given the country’s below-replacement birth rate, its population in the long term would eventually decline to levels last seen in the 1950s.

In 2024, total immigration to Austria reached 178,600, down from 195,000 in 2023. The composition of arrivals remained largely unchanged: nationals of the EU/EFTA and the UK accounted for around 48% of all inflows in 2023 and 2024, while non-EU nationals represented around 45%. The largest national groups continued to be from Germany, Romania, and Hungary, reflecting ongoing intra-EU mobility. Among non-EU nationals, the largest inflows originated from Ukraine and Syria.

According to Eurostat data on first resident permits, most non-EU nationals in 2023 came to Austria to reunify with their family (29%), for employment (11%), education (10%), as well as for other reasons, including international protection (50%). Between 2020 and 2023, the number of first permits issued in Austria increased steadily from 34,759 to 62,890, marking an overall rise of about 81%.  

Austria’s labour market and education system serve as important drivers of immigration. Persistent labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare, information technology, and tourism create strong demand for skilled migrants. Overall, most immigrants in Austria are employed are accommodation and food services, care work, and agriculture. In the care sector in particular, a large share of the workforce consists of women from Central and Eastern Europe. The foreign workforce in Austria shows a polarised qualification structure, with many having either very high or very low levels of formal education. In 2024, the share of employees with only primary education was significantly higher among foreigners (18%) compared to Austrians (7%). This was particularly pronounced among Turkish nationals (54%) and nationals of the Western Balkan countries (30%). At the same time, 32% of foreign employees had completed tertiary education, compared to 25% of Austrian employees, indicating a pool of qualified foreign labour. First-generation immigrants were mainly employed in manufacturing (16%), trade (14%), health sector (10%), tourism (10%) and construction (9%). By contracts, second generation migrants were more often employed in trade (23%), but less so in tourism (5%). The unemployment rate among foreign nationals rose by 1.1% in 2024 to reach 10.5% (up from 9.4% in 2023). Among Austrian citizens, the increase was more modest, rising by 0.4% to 5.7% (up from 5.3% in 2023).

To address the shortage of skilled labour, Austria introduced several policy measures in 2024 aimed at recognising foreign qualifications. A particular focus was placed on the health and care sectors. A dedicated database for the recognition of health and nursing professionals from non-EU countries was developed. Moreover, a five-point package was introduced to strengthen staffing across all areas of care – including certified nurses, social care professions, family carers, and providers of 24-hour care services.

Austria has also experienced a notable rise in the number of foreign students. Over the past three decades, their number has more than tripled, rising from around 27,000 in the mid-1990s to over 87,300 in 2023/2024. Foreign students now account for 33% of all university enrolments in Austria. The largest group of foreign students continues to be German nationals, constituting 40% (34,700) of all foreign students in 2023/2024. Students from Italy formed the second largest group, making up 10% (around 9,000) of the total.

In 2024, the number of asylum applications dropped sharply to 25,400, down from 59,200 in 2023. This decline was largely driver by fewer applications from Syrian, Afghan, Turkish and Moroccan nationals. Despite this reduction, Austria still ranked eighth among EU countries in terms of total asylum applications. Syrian, Afghan and Turkish nationals remained the top three nationalities seeking asylum in Austria.  After the fall of the Assad regime and the establishment of a transitional government in Syria, Austrian authorities initiated reassessment of protection statuses, re-examining 40,000 cases of Syrians who had been in Austria for less than five years. Meanwhile, ongoing asylum applications from Syrian applicants were suspended.

According to UNHCR, by May 2025, around 84,790 persons who fled Ukraine were registered in Austria under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (currently valid until March 2026), which grants access to residency, employment, healthcare and education, with beneficiaries receiving a blue residence card.  As of 1 October 2024, displaced persons from Ukraine holding the Blue Card can apply for a ‘Red-White-Red Card plus’ residence permit, offering unrestricted access to Austria’s labour market  after fulfilling certain conditions. A recent study found that 75% of Ukrainian respondents who fled the war and came to Austria held a university degree, 43.7% were employed, and nearly half of the unemployed (47%) were actively seeking work. Only 9% were not job hunting, mainly due to language training, recognition of qualifications, or childcare duties.

In 2024, 128,469 people left Austria, with over 85% being foreigners and 15% Austrian citizens. For the fifth consecutive year, the number of Austrians leaving the country exceeded the number of those returning. Both emigration and return migration among Austrians increased in 2023-2024. According to UNDESA, in 2024 the stock of Austrians living abroad stood at 430,560, with the largest communities in Germany (49%), Switzerland (13%), Türkiye (7%), as well as Australia, Italy, Hungary, and Canada, each hosting about 3%.

The number of individuals staying unlawfully in Austria has been declining since its 2022 peak of 105,545. By 2024, the number of non-EU nationals staying illegally in Austria decreased by 77.7% compared to 2022, and by 60.4% compared to 2023. A similar trend was observed in return orders, which dropped from 24,755 in 2022 to 13,170 in 2024. The return rate has increased since 2022, reflecting more effective enforcement.

To address irregular migration and security concerns, Austria carried out border controls in 2024 along its land borders with Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia, and intensified cross-border cooperation with Hungary and Western Balkan countries, including the deployment of additional police officers. It also launched information campaigns in key origin and transit countries to deter irregular migration. In 2023-2024, Austria signed cooperation agreements with India, Iraq, Bahrain, Turkmenistan, Morocco, Ghana, Kenya to improve efforts on irregular migration, return and readmission.

As both as a transit and destination country for human trafficking, Austria continues to invest in prevention and victim support.  These efforts included prosecuting more alleged traffickers. In 2024, the government adopted the 7^th National Action Plan (NAP) on Combating Human Trafficking for 2024-2027, increased NGO funding for shelters, services, and legal assistance to victims, and expanded  anti-trafficking training for law enforcement and frontline workers. It also intensified effort to prosecute traffickers and raise public awareness.

Over recent years, Austria has implemented several legal amendments in the area of migration. In 2024, it amended the Federal Act establishing the Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services to comply with the Constitutional Court’s 2023 ruling. The agency’s independence was formally established, legal counsellors received stronger protection against dismissal, a Quality Advisory Board was created to ensure the integrity of asylum-related counselling. To address labour and skills shortages, Austria relaxed language requirements, and expanded the shortage occupation list, and introduced targeted measures in sectors like  healthcare and public transport to attract non-EU skilled workers.  

Austria is a party to various migration policy dialogues, including the Prague Process.