Austria is granting asylum to far fewer Syrians than in the past, while the number receiving subsidiary protection has risen sharply. In the first half of 2026, almost 3,100 Syrian refugees were given subsidiary protection, about twice as many as those granted asylum, whose number stood at 1,523.
Subsidiary protection is granted when applicants cannot prove individual persecution but would face a serious risk of death or torture if returned to Syria. Unlike recognised refugees, they receive an initial residence permit for only one year, although they have immediate and full access to the labour market and may apply for a foreigner’s passport. People granted asylum receive a three-year residence permit.
Lukas Gahleitner-Gertz, a lawyer and spokesperson for Asylkoordination Österreich, says political persecution is no longer accepted as a reason for granting asylum since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He says the authorities are also assessing applicants according to the situation in different parts of Syria.
Applicants from areas around Damascus are considered less likely to qualify for protection because the authorities believe supplies, infrastructure and the transitional government are more established there. People from areas such as Aleppo, however, may face a greater risk of persecution by the Islamic State or forced recruitment by Kurdish forces.
Family reunification remains uncertain. A government suspension ended on 12 July, but no replacement rules have been introduced. Applications can still be filed at Austrian embassies, although authorities are generally not required to decide on them. Exceptions include cases involving unaccompanied minors waiting to join their parents.
Despite the decline in asylum grants, Syrians submitted the largest number of asylum applications in Austria so far: 1,227, or about one quarter of all applications. The positive decision rate for Syrians was 32 percent, compared with 76 percent for Iranians and 69 percent for Afghans.
Austria is also offering financial incentives for voluntary returns until September. Syrians in the asylum process, receiving welfare or holding subsidiary protection can receive 3,000 euros, while recognised refugees are offered 1,500 euros. About 2,000 Syrians have left Austria since Assad’s fall, either voluntarily or through forced removal.
