In 2016, Statistics Austria recorded 174 300 persons moving to Austria and 109 600 leaving, resulting in a net immigration inflow of 64 700. This is almost 50 000 persons fewer than in 2015, when the net inflow was 113 100. Among Austrian nationals, outflows exceeded inflows by 5 000 individuals. Almost 60% of new arrivals were Austrian, EU, or EFTA citizens (9% returning Austrian citizens and 49% EU or EFTA citizens) and over 40% of all immigrants came from third countries. The main countries of origin were Afghanistan (7%), Syria (5%), and Iran (3%), as well as countries of the former Yugoslavia (8%). Total inflows were equivalent to 1.9% of the resident population. In January 2017, the stock of foreign nationals was 1.3 million, 15.3% of the total population and an increase of 5.9% compared to January 2016. The largest groups residing in Austria were Germans (181 600), Serbians (118 500), Turks (116 800), and nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina (94 600).
In 2016, 25 600 new residence permits were issued to third country nationals, 8.8% fewer than in the previous year. Around 22.5% were issued to third country family members of non-EU immigrants on the basis of a quota and the remaining 77.5% were either family members of Austrian or EEA citizens, holders of Red-White-Red Cards, graduates of Austrian universities or humanitarian migrants. Roughly 8 300 temporary permits were issued, principally to students and their family members (60%), followed by special cases of temporary salaried employees and their family members (19%). In 2016, 31 500 employment permits were granted, 1 700 more than in 2015.
Between 2015 and 2016, the number of asylum applications decreased by about 50% to 42 300 but remained above the average of the previous five years (33 100). The majority of applicants continue to come from Afghanistan (11 800) and Syria (8 800). Compared to 2015, asylum applications from Nigerians, Moroccans and Algerians increased whereas those from many other countries of origin decreased.
Unaccompanied minors accounted for 9% of all asylum applications in 2016 (3 900 persons); approximately the same percentage as in 2015 but 319% more than in 2014. The majority came from Afghanistan, followed by Pakistan and Somalia. The age of compulsory education was raised to 18 years by a law introduced in 2016 for children without proof of minimum education, which particularly affects refugee children, many of whom do not have such proof.
In 2016, 5 900 persons returned voluntarily to their home countries. Among these, 4 800 were supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In 2015, 4 100 people returned voluntarily to their home countries with the help of the IOM. To support this, Austria started participating in the European Reintegration Network (ERIN) as well as IOM’s RESTART II reintegration programme and IRMA Plus which is organised by Caritas Austria.
In 2016, the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior established a co-ordination unit for strategic migration policy planning and a permanent migration commission. To improve the recognition of skills and qualifications acquired abroad, a 2016 law established service institutions that assess and testify their Austrian equivalence as well as advice centres that provide information on recognition and assessment procedures. The law also provides procedures for recognised refugees and persons with subsidiary protection status who are not able to present their documents as a result of their departure from their country of origin.
In 2017, changes were made to the Red-White-Red Card immigration system. Changes make the card accessible for Bachelor and PhD graduates from Austrian universities via a special procedure and extended job search periods. A new category for founders of business start-ups was introduced. Red-White-Red Cards are now valid for two years (previously one year). Changes were also introduced in 2017 concerning students (increased working hours for all students to up to 20 hours per week), intra-company transfers and posted workers to combat wage and social dumping. Employers of posted workers are obliged to apply Austrian Labour Law and ensure equal treatment relative to Austrian workers.
In the summer of 2017, two new integration laws came into effect as part of a larger effort to promote integration. The Integration Act requires refugees and persons with subsidiary protection status to sign an “integration statement” and to participate in integration courses. Courses cover basics of democratic values, regulations and language training. Failure to complete these courses can lead to sanctions, such as reduced income support. The Integration Act also focuses on active labour market policies and provides that unemployed refugees and person with subsidiary status participate in qualification measures to support an effective labour market integration.
