This right is provided by the Constitution, although the Treaty of St. Germain, which is also incorporated into the Constitution, restricts this freedom to the practice of religions that are compatible with public safety and morality. There are no known instances of a religion being banned under the Treaty. In order to qualify as a recognized religious organization under Austrian law, religious groups register with the Government. Although 78 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, most of the world's major religions are represented and practice their faiths freely. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation The Government does not restrict freedom of movement within the country or the right to change residence or workplace.
Austrian residents are free to travel abroad and to emigrate.
Citizens who leave the country have the right to return. Over the past few years the Government tightened its asylum regulations. As a result, asylum applications dropped from 11,875 in the first half of 1992 to 2,490 in the first half of 1993. Authorities approved 9.1 percent of asylum applications in the first half of 1993. Opposition groups, including political parties and human rights organizations, maintain that Austria's strict new asylum laws violate the right to apply for asylum and the right of asylum seekers to reside in Austria while their rejected asylum requests are appealed.