A brochure from Austria’s Ministry of Social Affairs reveals that the state finances artificial insemination not only for Austrian citizens but also for asylum seekers, covering up to 70% of the costs. This is made possible through the federal IVF Fund, which under certain conditions grants non-Austrians access to state-subsidized fertility treatments.
In 2024, 12,623 artificial insemination attempts were carried out in Austria, costing €21.4 million. The Republic covers up to €3,080 per treatment, with couples eligible for up to four attempts initially, and up to four more after a successful pregnancy. Nationals of European Union countries, people entitled to free movement, asylum seekers with permanent residence, and holders of “residence permit plus” are all eligible for funding.
FPÖ Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz criticized the practice as a political scandal, noting that while Austrian citizens often wait months for medical examinations, asylum seekers receive state-subsidized fertility treatments.
At the municipal level, Linz Health Councillor Michael Raml highlighted that around 50 procedures per year involve third-country nationals:
While Austrians often wait months for examinations, asylum seekers have artificial insemination paid for—at the taxpayers’ expense!
The controversy is not limited to health care. In 2024, Vienna allocated 1,618 municipal apartments directly to refugees, bypassing the official housing ticket system, while many local families remain on waiting lists for years.
