1. Joint UNECE/Eurostat Work Session
on Migration Statistics
organised in collaboration with UNFPA
Geneva, Switzerland, 3-5 March 2008
The use of time stamps for measuring short-term migrants in Austrian Migration Statistics
Submitted by
STATISTICS AUSTRIA
Stephan Marik-Lebeck

2. Definitions of Duration for Residents and migration
CONTENTS
Introduction
Definitions of Duration for Residents and migration
The impact of short- and long-term migration in Austria
The use of other sources to measure short-term migration in Austria – possibilities and limitations
Conclusion

3. INTRODUCTION
Migration statistics reflect national administrative systems  inconsistency between most countries
Population and migration statistics refer to residential population ("permanent residents")  problems for adequate recording of people not registered for the complete reference period
Classification of migration through permit expiry or intended length of stay  not necessarily reflecting the actual length of stay
Depicting at least an “administrative reality” by using registrations of permanent residences

4. DEFINITIONS OF DURATION FOR RESIDENTS AND MIGRATION
Since 2002: register of residences in Austria
Population stock and migration flows derived under identical criteria from registrations and de-registrations of main residences
information from register on the residence duration used to classify population stocks (“Permanent Residents”) and migration flows
classification based on the “1998 UN Recommendations on Statistics of International Migration”:
Temporary stayers: 0 to 90 days;
Short term migration: 91 to 365 days and
Long term migration: 366 days and longer.

5. DEFINITIONS OF DURATION FOR RESIDENTS AND MIGRATION
Minimum of 90 days of continuous registration in Austria for inclusion in population and migration statistics
register would allow any time span
Austria can thus fulfill requirements of EU regulation on migration statistics  distinguish long-term migration
However, schedule for delivery of data makes estimations necessary
No consistency with national data

6. THE IMPACT OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MIGRATION IN AUSTRIA
immigration
emigration
net-migration
Abs. %
Registered Migrations
100,0
44.611
of which:
Temporary Stayers (≤90 days)
26.883
18,4
27.622
27,1
-739
-1,6
Short-Term Migration ( days)
28.737
19,6
23.866
23,4
4.871
10,9
Long-Term Migration (>365 days)
90.855
62,0
50.376
49,5
40.479
90,7
National Migration statistics (STM + LTM)
81,6
74.242
72,9
45.350
101,6
Immigration to Austria :
60% still registered in Austria after one year  long-term migrants
20% de-registered within three months  temporary stayers
20% short-term migrants, de-registered after 3-12 months
Emigration: lower share of long-term migrants  just only half of all deregistered persons stayed for more than one year in Austria.
share of temporary stayers was at 27%
while 23% could be considered as short-term migrants.
impact of migration: > 90% of the migration balance is made up of long-term migrants
rest are short-term migrants.
in- and out-flows of temporary stayers largely cancel each other out, so that their migration balance is negligible.
In using the 90 days threshold national migration statistics cover about 80% of all registrations and 75% of all de-registrations
 Information on persons staying less than 90days is not fully comprehensive  unknown amount of persons not registering, e.g. visa stayers, tourists etc.

7. THE IMPACT OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM MIGRATION IN AUSTRIA
Migration impact of short-term migrations not very important
However significant migration flows
Exclusion of temporary stayers reduces size of migration flows
Yet only partial coverage in registers
Inclusion of short-term migrants offers insight in circular migration patterns
Covers seasonal workers in tourism and agriculture
No significant augmentation of migration balance
Allows quicker publication of data

8. Ministry of Interior publishes monthly and annual permit statistics
OTHER SOURCES TO MEASURE SHORT-TERM MIGRATION – POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
Determine short-term migrants through number of permits with limited validity
Ministry of Interior publishes monthly and annual permit statistics
Disaggregated by first-time permits
Prolongations
Changes of purpose (in most cases equal to prolongation)
However, validity of permits gives no information on actual length of stay in Austria, nor about the place of residence

9. no information on permits for EU-/EWR- and Swiss citizens
OTHER SOURCES TO MEASURE SHORT-TERM MIGRATION – POSSIBILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
Indication for length of stay is maximum validity of permits for different purposes as defined by national law
permits do not include a PIN to link them with the registration register  no automatic de-registration once permit has expired
no information on permits for EU-/EWR- and Swiss citizens
permit statistics only comparable for third-country nationals

10. Accorded residence permits and asylum applications in 2002-2006
Type of residence permit
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
First-time settlement allowances (unlimited)
Subject to a quota (a)
4.069
6.258
5.138
8.027
6.596
outside the quota (b)
12.664
25.908
26.697
26.537
20.570
of which:
relatives of Austrian nationals
8.595
23.444
23.308
22.701
18.054
Residence permits (limited)
First-time permits (c)
6.613
21.200
32.209
35.405
38.801
persons in temporary employment / seasonal workers .
9.973
15.718
17.384
19.797
Residence visa D+C (d)
10.711
Applications for asylum (e)
13.349
22.461
24.634
32.359
39.354
total (Sum of a-e)
47.406
75.827
88.678
Source: Austrian Ministry of Interior, Statistics on Asylum and Foreigners
limited comparability because large part of applications for asylum are filed from abroad.
Many asylum seekers do not actually reside in Austria.
On the other hand, Asylum seekers were not included in migration statistics prior to 2004 and
Are still not fully covered due to violations of their mandatory registration by house-keepers.
Residence visa (before 2006: seasonal work permits) allow to work in Austria for up to six months.
Largely issued to EU citizens from countries with restrictions on the free movement of workers  Permit statistics include this single group of EU citizens
Seasonal migration is very important for Austria due to its relevance for tourism.

11. Comparison of permit and migration statistics in Austria 2002-2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Issued Residence permits and asylum applications
47.406
75.827
88.678
Immigration according to Migration Statistics
Austrian Nationals
15.588
16.367
18.452
16.390
20.598
Foreigners
85.384
97.164
92.567
of which:
EU-14
23.387
22.277
19.888
16.913
14.222
EU-10 (Accession 2004)
15.711
16.673
16.310 …
Third-Country-Nationals
46.286
62.505
72.749
80.251
78.345
Source: Austrian Ministry of Interior, Statistics on Foreigners and Asylum
Comparability of permit statistics and the registration register is quite limited.
Some improvements possible once further administrative registers become operational in the near future.
e.g. the foreigners’ information system

12. CONCLUSION
The feasibility of time-limits has to be seen in view of distinct legal frameworks for recording migration in different countries
Inclusion of short-term migrants in migration statistics requires adaptations also in definitions of the population stock
Use of common statistical criteria for migration flows and population stocks
Ensure consistency of migration statistics with other demographic data, esp. on regional level
harmonisation with definitions in censuses

13. CONCLUSION
Integration of different data sources for migration statistics is hindered by different statistical designs
increase knowledge of data producers of rationale behind administrative procedures preceding the preparation of statistics
Statistical proceeding of short-term migrants should also take into account the legal framework for the sojourns of foreigners
no adjustments of administrative procedures for statistical purposes necessary
Statistics on short-term migration should be provided under harmonised criteria on a European level

14. CONCLUSION
The main question guiding the process of harmonisation and improving migration statistics should be:
“What kind of “migration reality” are we going to produce in the future?”

15. The use of time stamps for measuring short-term migrants in Austrian Migration Statistics
Submitted by
STATISTICS AUSTRIA
Stephan Marik-Lebeck