Alongside the family-reunification decision, the National Council’s Main Committee approved the 2025 ‘Niederlassungsverordnung’ (Settlement Regulation) that fixes the nationwide quota for immigration categories subject to annual limits. For the calendar year 2025, Austria will issue a maximum of 5,616 quota-bound residence permits—down from 5,846 in 2024 and 5,951 in 2023.
The lion’s share—4,850 slots—is reserved for family-related immigration of third-country nationals (dependants of permanent residents). A further 385 places are allocated to so-called “Privatiers” (financially independent retirees or persons of private means), 89 to holders of an existing ‘Long-Term EU Residence’ permit from another member state who wish to move to Austria, and 292 to relatives converting a current permit into a Red-White-Red Card Plus.
VisaHQ, a global visa and immigration services platform, can help applicants and HR teams navigate Austria’s quota-bound categories by pre-checking documentation, tracking provincial quota releases, and securing hard-to-get appointments through its dedicated country page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/).
![New Settlement Regulation Caps Austria’s 2025 Immigration Quota at 5,616 Permits]()
The government justifies the 230-place reduction with lower demand from the provinces of Lower Austria and Styria; both lobbied for smaller family-reunification quotas amid tight housing supply. Immigration lawyers note that the cap does not apply to labour-market driven routes such as the standard Red-White-Red Card for key workers or the EU Blue Card, but warn that the tighter family numbers could indirectly affect talent attraction for multinational employers whose staff hope to bring dependants later.
Applicants in quota-bound categories must secure an appointment as soon as provincial windows open in January, as places are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and historically fill within hours. Employers sponsoring elderly parents or financially independent partners should start document gathering now, including proof of stable income (currently net €2,009.85 per couple) and comprehensive health insurance. Failure to obtain a quota place means waiting until 2026 or pursuing a different visa type, where eligible.
For global mobility managers, the message is clear: build the slimmer quota into relocation timelines, pre-screen candidates early and coordinate closely with Austrian consulates to avoid unpleasant surprises. The Interior Ministry is expected to publish provincial sub-quotas and opening dates before year-end; HR teams should track these notices and advise employees accordingly.
The lion’s share—4,850 slots—is reserved for family-related immigration of third-country nationals (dependants of permanent residents). A further 385 places are allocated to so-called “Privatiers” (financially independent retirees or persons of private means), 89 to holders of an existing ‘Long-Term EU Residence’ permit from another member state who wish to move to Austria, and 292 to relatives converting a current permit into a Red-White-Red Card Plus.
VisaHQ, a global visa and immigration services platform, can help applicants and HR teams navigate Austria’s quota-bound categories by pre-checking documentation, tracking provincial quota releases, and securing hard-to-get appointments through its dedicated country page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/).
The government justifies the 230-place reduction with lower demand from the provinces of Lower Austria and Styria; both lobbied for smaller family-reunification quotas amid tight housing supply. Immigration lawyers note that the cap does not apply to labour-market driven routes such as the standard Red-White-Red Card for key workers or the EU Blue Card, but warn that the tighter family numbers could indirectly affect talent attraction for multinational employers whose staff hope to bring dependants later.
Applicants in quota-bound categories must secure an appointment as soon as provincial windows open in January, as places are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and historically fill within hours. Employers sponsoring elderly parents or financially independent partners should start document gathering now, including proof of stable income (currently net €2,009.85 per couple) and comprehensive health insurance. Failure to obtain a quota place means waiting until 2026 or pursuing a different visa type, where eligible.
For global mobility managers, the message is clear: build the slimmer quota into relocation timelines, pre-screen candidates early and coordinate closely with Austrian consulates to avoid unpleasant surprises. The Interior Ministry is expected to publish provincial sub-quotas and opening dates before year-end; HR teams should track these notices and advise employees accordingly.
