The number of asylum applications in Austria decreased significantly in 2023. This is evident from preliminary figures from the Ministry of the Interior. Accordingly, there were 58,686 applications. This corresponds to a decrease of 48 percent compared to 2022.
In addition, more than 30,000 asylum seekers escaped the procedure, which normally means that they traveled on to their actual destination country.
Apart from this effect, which has increased compared to the previous year, it is one of the years with the highest number of applications despite the decrease. Two years ago there were almost 40,000 applications, if you look back two years ago, there were less than 13,000 applications in 2019. This is of course still well below the 88,300 applications from the year of the refugee crisis in 2015.
Syrians with the most registrations
By far the strongest country in terms of applications are Syrians. Afghans and Turkish citizens also belong to the top group.
It is obvious that the number of applications will have fallen particularly sharply towards the end of 2023. The 2,508 applications in the last month of the year represent a decrease of 64 percent compared to December 2022. The Ministry of the Interior emphasizes that the development in Austria is at odds with that in Europe as a whole.
Austria ignores the EU trend
Because in the EU (plus Switzerland, Norway) an increase of 18 percent was registered in 2023. Asylum applications have risen particularly sharply in the southern EU member states Greece (plus 73 percent), Italy (plus 64 percent) and Spain (plus 38 percent), but also in Germany (plus 47 percent), according to the Ministry of the Interior. A similar decline to that in Austria was observed in Cyprus and Sweden.
In Austria, asylum was granted in a total of 16,787 cases last year. In absolute numbers, this is more than in 2022 with 13,779 positive reports. The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum and the judiciary took 60,513 legally negative decisions affecting a total of 33,480 people.
But for example, people who receive subsidiary protection instead of asylum are also considered to have had a negative decision. In total, around 7,800 people received final status and humanitarian stay in the first eleven months – December is not yet available.
Expedited procedure requested
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum continues to rely on rapid and urgent procedures. In 2023, 8,421 negative decisions were made within 28 days or 72 hours.
In addition, the Federal Office carried out more than 12,600 deportations, 53 percent of which occurred independently and the rest involuntarily. Of course, the deportees are not only refugees, but also EU citizens who have to leave the country. In cases of forced deportations, approximately 45 percent of people have a criminal conviction.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
