Proof of income

Asylum: ÖVP wants to reorganize family reunification

Persons entitled to asylum at a job fair (archive photo)

(Bild: APA/HANS PUNZ)

The ÖVP wants to reorganize family reunification for persons entitled to asylum. Currently, family members can apply for entry within three months of the decision. Only after this period do they have to provide proof of sufficient income, for example.

For the ÖVP, this is too late and the person entitled to asylum is also required to do so. "In my opinion, one approach would be to say: if someone brings their family to Austria, they should prove that they can support them," said Secretary General Christian Stocker on Friday.

Proof only required after three months
Currently, family members of persons entitled to asylum can submit an application for entry within three months of being granted status. This is possible at an Austrian representation authority abroad. If this is granted, they can travel to Austria, apply for asylum here and thus receive the same protection status as the other person.

Proof of adequate accommodation, health insurance and sufficient income are only required three months after the family member's status has been granted. 

In my opinion, one approach would be to say: If someone brings their family to Austria, they should prove that they can provide for them.

Christian Stocker, ÖVP-Generalsekretär

Many reunifications in Vienna
Vienna recently reported high numbers of family reunifications, which would have led to problems in schools in particular due to a lack of places. According to Stocker, however, each local authority must solve its own challenges.

Stocker's statements on family reunification in Vienna were criticized by the SPÖ and the NEOS. "The federal government cannot say here: This is Vienna's job, we don't care," said NEOS migration spokesperson Stephanie Krisper. "(...) Steering family reunification in a controlled manner is a state task." The Ministry of the Interior processes every single application and therefore has a complete overview of how many people enter the country and when, said SPÖ integration spokesperson Christian Oxonitsch. This information could be shared with the education directorates, for example.

In January, 845 such applications were submitted, compared to 421 a year ago. Most people come from Syria. The law defines family members as parents of underage children with asylum or protection status, wives and husbands as well as unmarried underage children.