Austria Asylum Claims Hit Decade Low

Asylum applications in Austria have dropped to their lowest level in more than a decade, according to official figures released by migration authorities.

Data showed that 347 new asylum requests were recorded in February, marking the lowest monthly figure in over ten years.

The latest statistics from Austria’s migration and asylum agency indicate a 41 percent decline compared with February 2025. The total number of applications recorded last month reached 850, including cases related to children born to refugees already residing in the country.

Figures also confirmed a continued downward trend since the start of the year, with total applications falling to around 1,800. Of these, only 768 were submitted by newly arrived individuals.

Most recent applicants came from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Iran, while asylum requests from Syrian nationals declined to 81 new cases. Since the beginning of the year, Syrians have submitted a total of 468 applications.

At the same time, the number of Syrians voluntarily returning to their home country has increased significantly, surpassing 1,000 people, compared with around 200 returnees recorded across 2023 and 2024.