In a late-night sitting on 20 December, Austria’s National Council voted to prolong §36 of the Asylum Act, keeping refugee family-reunification rights suspended until 2 July 2026. The measure—first imposed in July 2025—blocks recognised refugees and subsidiary-protection holders from bringing spouses or minor children to Austria. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner told MPs that municipalities face “housing shortages and classroom overcrowding” after record asylum inflows between 2022 and 2024.
The coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS voted in favour, joined by the opposition FPÖ, which simultaneously demanded faster deportations of failed asylum seekers. The Greens and smaller liberal-left parties voted against, calling the extension a breach of EU Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family life. Human-rights NGOs warn the decision could worsen mental-health problems among separated families and hinder integration outcomes.
While the freeze has limited direct impact on mainstream corporate transfers, relocation providers note a knock-on effect for employers who have hired former refugees now on permanent staff contracts. HR teams report difficulties retaining talent whose family members remain abroad, forcing companies to fund extra leave or counselling services.
![Parliament Extends Freeze on Refugee Family-Reunification Rights to July 2026]()
Amid these challenges, VisaHQ can be a useful ally for HR departments and affected refugees alike. Through its Austria-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/), the platform provides step-by-step visa guidance, document checking and application tracking for everything from Schengen visitor permits to humanitarian visas, helping employers and families navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with greater confidence.
Practical work-arounds are scarce. Humanitarian family visas exist but are discretionary and processed slowly. Companies may consider sponsoring short-stay Schengen visas for periodic visits, but these confer neither work nor study rights and are subject to 90/180-day limits. Mobility advisers recommend proactive mental-health support, advance vacation planning and close monitoring of parliamentary debates each spring, when the measure can again be renewed for up to two additional years.
If the freeze extends into 2027–2028, Austria risks infringement proceedings from the European Commission. Businesses employing large numbers of refugees should therefore add legal-compliance monitoring to their risk registers and budget for potential litigation support.
The coalition of ÖVP, SPÖ and NEOS voted in favour, joined by the opposition FPÖ, which simultaneously demanded faster deportations of failed asylum seekers. The Greens and smaller liberal-left parties voted against, calling the extension a breach of EU Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family life. Human-rights NGOs warn the decision could worsen mental-health problems among separated families and hinder integration outcomes.
While the freeze has limited direct impact on mainstream corporate transfers, relocation providers note a knock-on effect for employers who have hired former refugees now on permanent staff contracts. HR teams report difficulties retaining talent whose family members remain abroad, forcing companies to fund extra leave or counselling services.
Amid these challenges, VisaHQ can be a useful ally for HR departments and affected refugees alike. Through its Austria-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/austria/), the platform provides step-by-step visa guidance, document checking and application tracking for everything from Schengen visitor permits to humanitarian visas, helping employers and families navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with greater confidence.
Practical work-arounds are scarce. Humanitarian family visas exist but are discretionary and processed slowly. Companies may consider sponsoring short-stay Schengen visas for periodic visits, but these confer neither work nor study rights and are subject to 90/180-day limits. Mobility advisers recommend proactive mental-health support, advance vacation planning and close monitoring of parliamentary debates each spring, when the measure can again be renewed for up to two additional years.
If the freeze extends into 2027–2028, Austria risks infringement proceedings from the European Commission. Businesses employing large numbers of refugees should therefore add legal-compliance monitoring to their risk registers and budget for potential litigation support.
