The government is implementing strict new limits on family reunification for 2026 and 2027. According to two ordinances sent for review by the on Friday, a maximum of 314 people per year will be allowed entry into Austria.
Interior Minister 's department calculated this quota based on application volume and assessments of the labor market, social welfare, and education systems. The limit excludes 60 absolute hardship cases that were granted entry during 2024.
The move follows a 2025 entry stop and significant pressure on schools, where 44.6 percent of 's first graders lack sufficient skills. In 2023, over 14,000 people applied for reunification, with 10,624 granted permission to enter the country.