Upper Austria sees no rise in civilian service declarations

While declarations opting for civilian service have risen by 8.5 percent across Austria, the increase has not reached Upper Austria, ORF reported. From January to the end of September 2026, the state recorded 2,567 declarations, fewer than in the same period last year.

At a conference in Vorarlberg on Friday, Austria’s state governors unanimously called for the military service reform to be implemented quickly. It is due to take effect on 1 January 2027.

The Upper Austrian Red Cross said it had not seen a decline in interest in civilian service. “Should an extension happen, the Upper Austrian Red Cross will be well prepared,” spokesperson Daniel Gruber said. The Austrian Armed Forces in Upper Austria declined to comment.

The reform plan would extend compulsory military service from six months to nine. If the number of conscripts nationwide falls below 13,800, civilian service would also be extended by two months from 2028.