Family reunification brought more than three times as many third-country nationals to Austria in 2025 as the country's two best-known skilled-worker residence permits, according to newly published official figures.
The latest Migration & Integration yearbook from Statistics Austria shows how people from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland are moving to Austria and what residence status they hold once here.
Around 45,500 first residence titles were issued to third-country nationals during 2025.
What were the main routes into Austria in 2025?
Around 16,300 third-country nationals came to Austria through family reunification, according to Statistics Austria.
That was considerably more than the roughly 5,200 arrivals of skilled workers who received either a Red-White-Red Card or an EU Blue Card.
Another 9,500 people received a first Aufenthaltsbewilligung, or temporary residence authorisation. Statistics Austria says these were mainly students, school pupils and au pairs.
Austria also had an average of around 7,900 seasonal workers from third countries during the year. This figure is different from the others because it represents the average number of seasonal workers at the time, not permits issued.
Statistics Austria cautions against simply adding all of these figures together. The numbers come from different administrative and migration datasets using different methods, so their total doesn't match Austria's overall migration statistics.
Asylum is also recorded separately. Around 16,700 asylum applications were lodged in Austria in 2025. Asylum seekers, recognised refugees and displaced Ukrainians don't require the same residence titles under Austria's Settlement and Residence Act as people moving through the routes described above.
READ ALSO: How many people hold residence permits in Austria and where are they from?
Which permits cover family reunification?
The 16,300 family reunification figure covers people joining eligible family members already living in Austria, but the residence title someone receives depends on the person they're joining and their individual circumstances.
For example, family members of Red-White-Red Card and EU Blue Card holders apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, which provides temporary settlement and unrestricted access to Austria's labour market.
Other family members may receive a Familienangehöriger residence title or another settlement permit.
Austria's official migration portal has a full breakdown of the family reunification routes and their requirements.
Some family reunification categories are subject to annual quotas, while family members of Red-White-Red Card holders, EU Blue Card holders, Austrian citizens and researchers are among those exempt from the quota requirement.
How significant are Austria's skilled-worker routes?
Around 5,200 third-country nationals arrived as skilled workers with either a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card in 2025.
The Red-White-Red Card system covers several groups, including highly qualified workers, skilled workers in shortage occupations, other key workers, graduates of Austrian universities, start-up founders, and certain regular workers in tourism, agriculture, and forestry.
The EU Blue Card is another work and residence route for qualifying highly skilled workers.
The EU Blue Card and employment-based Red-White-Red Cards are initially tied to the employment on which they were granted, although eligible holders may later switch to a Red-White-Red Card Plus with unrestricted labour-market access.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: Austria's most in-demand jobs in 2026
How many third-country nationals have permanent residence?
On January 1st, 2026, Austria had 927,242 residents classed as third-country nationals, including people whose nationality was unknown, stateless or unclear.
Of this group, 38.2 percent held an unlimited permanent residence status.
A further 23.8 percent had a residence title allowing temporary settlement, while 3.1 percent held a temporary residence authorisation.
Another 2.4 percent were asylum seekers with ongoing cases. The remaining 32.6 percent fell into other categories, including recognised refugees, people with subsidiary protection and seasonal workers.
One route to permanent status is the Daueraufenthalt – EU, or Long-term Resident – EU permit.
It gives third-country nationals the right to settle in Austria indefinitely and unrestricted access to the labour market. Applicants can obtain it after five years of uninterrupted qualifying settlement, provided they meet the general requirements and have completed Module 2 of Austria's Integration Agreement.
More details on the requirements for Long-term Resident – EU status are available on Austria's government portal.
READ ALSO: Is it best to aim for permanent residency or citizenship in Austria?
Key vocabulary
der Aufenthaltstitel – residence title or residence permit
die Familienzusammenführung – family reunification
die Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte – Red-White-Red Card
die Aufenthaltsbewilligung – temporary residence authorisation
der Daueraufenthalt – EU – Long-term Resident – EU status
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