Asylum and Migration Overview 2024

The Asylum and Migration Overview 2024 (formerly Annual Report on Migration and Asylum) summarizes key migration and asylum policy developments in Austria from January to December 2024. A major topic was the ongoing shortage of skilled labor and recommendations to reform the Red-White-Red Card system. Measures were introduced to improve the recognition of foreign qualifications and to actively recruit skilled workers from third countries. Stricter controls were implemented for family reunification and asylum and family reunification procedures for Syrian nationals were suspended. Also, existing protection statuses were reviewed, and a return and deportation strategy to support voluntary repatriation was introduced.