What is asylum?
If you are afraid to return to your country of origin, or country of previous residence in case you are stateless because you are in danger of suffering serious harm you can get protection in Austria. The first step to receive protection is to apply for asylum.
The Austrian asylum authorities will examine your application and will make a decision in accordance with European Union and Austrian legislation. You will either be granted refugee status, subsidiary protection status, humanitarian right to remain or your application may be rejected. For more information on the different forms of protection that can be granted in Austria, see this link.
For more information on the Austrian asylum procedure see “The asylum procedure in Austria”.
Please note that you can only apply for asylum in Austria if you are present on Austrian territory. You cannot apply for asylum in Austria from abroad.
If you have close family members in Austria who have already been granted protection, you may be able to join them if certain criteria are fulfilled. For more information please see the section on family reunification.
If you are in a European Union country and have close family members in Austria, you may be able to join them under the so-called Dublin III Regulation if certain criteria are fulfilled. For more information please see: “Can my application for asylum be examined in another European country?”