Upper Austria unveiled new “House Rules” on Thursday, November 20th—with a 13-point guide to structure coexistence in the province, supporting integration.
Governor Thomas Stelzer, Integration Councillor Christian Dörfel, and expert Kenan Güngör presented the plan, while highlighting the province’s 281,000 residents born abroad from 172 countries.
The rules will be introduced in schools from next February onwards, integrated into lessons and workshops. Special programs are planned for migrants who resist integration, including targeted deradicalization measures.
Officials stressed that the rules aim to benefit everyone, not just migrants. Serious violations would be handled through the legal system.
The local announcement follows plans launched for Austria nationally to tighten its integration requirements for refugees from 2026, extending mandatory orientation courses to five days and introducing a ten-point “integration declaration.” Integration Minister Claudia Plakolm said the changes follow concerns over illegal migration and a successful pilot programme.
