Austria is introducing stricter measures targeting both adult migrants and schoolchildren struggling with German language skills, stating that language acquisition and respect for democratic values are essential to social cohesion and national security in the Alpine country.

Migrants who drop out of language courses or lessons on Austrian democratic values could face fines running into several thousand euros, authorities in Vienna declared on Wednesday (January 21). Until now, penalties were limited mainly to reductions in social welfare payments.

"Integration should not be seen as an offer, but as an obligation," Integration Minister Claudia Bauer said.

The measures would also apply to migrants who refuse to sign a declaration accepting Austria’s democratic way of life. Though the government mentioned that outright rejection of democratic values remains limited, State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried said only around 10 percent of people with a migrant background openly oppose such principles.

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Embracing 'Austrian values' essential to social peace, government argues

Last year, courses explaining "Austrian values" were discontinued in about 2,400 cases, while nearly 10,000 participants failed to complete German language courses, the German Press Agency (dpa) reported. According to the country's integration minister, the precise list of penalties for so-called "integration refusers" is still under negotiation.

Leichtfried said "Integration is one of the key issues for security and social peace in Austria," adding that Islamist extremism, alongside right-wing extremism, poses the greatest threat to the country’s security.

Alongside these measures for adults, parliament has also passed a new law tightening language requirements for schoolchildren. Pupils with limited German skills will now be required to attend a mandatory two-week summer school, effectively shortening their nine-week summer holidays. Refusal to attend may also result in fines.

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Opponents criticize measures as 'ghetto classes'

The policy forms part of the integration agenda of Austria’s coalition government, made up of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the liberal Neos.

"German is the key to educational advancement, and German is also the key to a successful life," Education Minister Christoph Wiederkehr told parliament.

The obligation applies to pupils up to the age of 15 who attend special classes or remedial courses because language difficulties prevent them from following regular lessons. Government estimates indicate that around 48,000 students were affected in 2025. In the capital Vienna alone, roughly one in five primary school pupils were said to have insufficient German skills at the start of the current school year, a situation city authorities largely attribute to family reunification involving refugees from Syria.

The decision builds on earlier migrant education policies. Austria introduced special German-language classes in 2018, slammed by opponents as "ghetto classes," which separate pupils with weak language skills from regular lessons for several hours a day. Under the new legislation, the final two weeks of the summer break will now be compulsory schooling for children considered to be low in German proficiency.

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Who will it affect?

According to official statistics, the change could affect around 49,000 of Austria’s 1.2 million schoolchildren, with about 26,000 expected to attend in the first phase this year.

"German is the key to participation," Austria's education minister said ahead of the parliamentary vote.

The teachers' union has criticised the reform, arguing that resources earmarked for summer schooling would be better invested in strengthening language support during the regular school year.

Austria's tougher integration stance comes amid a charged political climate and growing anti-migrant sentiments. In 2024, the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) topped national elections for the first time, although it failed to secure coalition partners to form a government.

The conservative government is shifting towards a more enforcement-driven approach to what it considers 'good integration,' linking language proficiency and civic participation more strongly to social order and national security.

With AFP and dpa

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