So many asylum applications were filed in Austria in August

The decline in asylum applications filed in Austria continued in August. Since the beginning of the year, 11,622 asylum applications have been submitted. In the same period last year, there were 17,171 applications, resulting in a decrease of 32 percent. In total, 1,403 asylum applications were filed in August, 179 fewer than in July, the Ministry of the Interior announced over the weekend. Most of them came from Afghanistan.

Only 4,545 of the asylum applications submitted this year were original, meaning they were filed for the first time by people in Austria. The rest were mainly repeat applicants. Of the 405 applications submitted from Afghanistan in August, only 195 were new. The rest are follow-up applications or applications from children born in Austria. Due to a ruling by the European Court of Justice, female beneficiaries of protection in Austria apply for asylum if only subsidiary protection was granted.

528,444 Asylum Applications in Europe

In Europe, there were 528,444 asylum applications by the end of August 2025, 20 percent or 131,968 fewer applications than in the same period in 2024. Applications increased significantly in Latvia (18 percent), Luxembourg (eight), and Croatia (seven). Applications decreased in many other countries, especially in Cyprus (minus 65 percent), Bulgaria (71), Romania (52), Germany (38), the Netherlands (33), and Italy (20). Adjusted for population, Austria ranks 11th in the Europe-wide statistics. In absolute numbers, Austria ranks 9th EU-wide, behind Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, and ahead of Poland and Ireland.

In August, the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum issued or closed 20,790 negative decisions. By the end of August, 1,269 people voluntarily waived protection and left Austria during the process. In 6,984 cases, asylum or subsidiary protection was granted. Asylum seekers from Morocco, Georgia, and India had no chance of asylum in August. The BFA continues to rely on fast-track and expedited procedures in these cases. By the end of August, 446 negative decisions were made within 28 days or 72 hours in the first instance.

Of the 9,080 deportations by the BFA, 4,717 were voluntary departures, and 4,363 were forced. According to the Ministry of the Interior, every second deportee had a criminal conviction. For example, by the end of August, a total of 619 Dublin transfers were carried out, including 75 Afghans, 69 Syrians, and 67 Algerians.

55,923 People in Basic Care

Currently, 55,923 people are in basic care. This number has significantly decreased over the past two years (at the beginning of 2023, there were still nearly 93,000 people in basic care). "This also allows for savings. The number of federal quarters alone has been reduced from more than 30 to currently eight in the last two years," according to the ministry of Gerhard Karner (ÖVP).

As there are fewer apprehensions after illegal border crossings, the infrastructure is also being scaled back. The situation in Spielfeld is stable, but the container buildings and the detention tent remain for the preparation and execution of border police focus actions. Four tents in the area of the border control point are being dismantled. The dismantling is underway and will be completed by the end of September. In Nickelsdorf, Burgenland, four large tents were also dismantled.

The Interior Minister recently faced criticism for a visit by a Taliban delegation, including from the SPÖ and the Greens. The ministry stated that technical-level talks are necessary to deport convicted Afghan criminals to their home country. "The deportations of convicted criminals to Syria that have already been implemented and in the future also to Afghanistan are part of a tough and fair asylum policy. The chosen course will continue to be consistently pursued," emphasized Karner. On Saturday, Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) also justified the visit: "It is not the case that because we want to deport there, we approve of the regime."

"Austria Still a Main Attraction for Welfare Tourists"

The FPÖ sees this as "an attempt to claim the numbers for themselves." These are part of a pan-European trend, and Karner has nothing to do with it, according to the criticism. "Neither are the borders secure under Karner, nor has the paradise for illegal immigrants been eliminated. On the contrary: Austria is still a main attraction for welfare tourists," said the blue Secretary General Michael Schnedlitz in a statement. The deportations to Syria are also no reason for self-praise, emphasized Schnedlitz, who once again called for Karner's resignation: "A minister who proudly presents two deported Syrians while thousands simultaneously pour into the country is just as untenable as one who reinterprets European statistics as his personal success."

(APA/Red)

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