Eligibility Quiz
Are you currently physically present on Austrian territory or at an Austrian border?
Requirements
Eligibility is assessed based on the severity of the threat you face and your travel route to Austria.
- Refugee Status (Asylum): You must demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
- Subsidiary Protection: If you do not qualify as a refugee, you may still be granted protection if there is a real risk that you would face the death penalty, torture, or inhuman/degrading treatment if returned home.
- Humanitarian Right to Remain: This is a discretionary status granted in exceptional cases where a person cannot be deported because it would violate Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to respect for private and family life).
- The Dublin Regulation: Austria will not process your application if it is determined that another EU member state is responsible for your claim (e.g., if you were first fingerprinted or applied for asylum in another EU country).
- Safe Countries of Origin (SCO): If you are from a country deemed "safe" by the Austrian government, your application will likely be processed under an accelerated procedure, which can result in a decision in as little as 72 hours.
- Duty to Cooperate: You are legally required to cooperate with authorities. This includes providing truthful information, attending all interviews, and in some cases, handing over your mobile phone for data extraction to verify your travel route.
Conditions & Warnings
1
Applications cannot be made at embassies; you must be on Austrian territory to apply.
2
The Dublin Regulation applies: if you entered another EU country first, Austria may transfer you back to that country.
3
Family reunification rules were significantly tightened in 2024 and 2026, often requiring DNA testing.
4
Procedures for Syrian nationals may be subject to temporary pauses or additional reviews as of late 2024.
Qualifications
Initial duration
3 years
Renewable for
3 years
Language
Not required
No language requirement for the initial application; interpreters are provided for interviews.
Fees
Application fees
€0
The asylum procedure is free of charge.
Program Details
Program type
Temporary Residence
Status
Active
Processing time
1–8 months
Apply via
In-country