There were fewer than 59,000 asylum applications in 2023, but it was still one of the years with the highest number of applications. 30,000 people left the country early.
The number of asylum applications in Austria fell significantly in 2023. This is demonstrated by preliminary figures from the Ministry of the Interior, which are available to the APA. Thus, there were 58,686 registrations. This corresponds to a 48 percent decrease compared to 2022. Additionally, around 30,000 asylum seekers escaped the procedure, which typically means they traveled to their true destination countries.
Leaving aside this effect, which has increased since the previous year, it is one of the years with the highest number of requests, despite the decrease. Two years ago, there were almost 40,000 applications. If we look back two years ago, there were less than 13,000 applications in 2019. Of course, this number is still far below the 88,300 applications recorded in the year of the refugee crisis, in 2015.
Most candidates from Syria, Afghanistan and Türkiye
By far, the strongest nation in terms of candidacies are the Syrians. Afghan and Turkish citizens are also in the top group.
It is obvious that the number of applications fell particularly sharply at 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 underlines that development in Austria will against that of Europe as a whole. Because in the EU (plus Switzerland and Norway) an increase of 18 percent was recorded in 2023. Asylum applications increased 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), lists the Department of the Interior. A similar decline to that recorded in Austria was observed in Cyprus and Sweden.
16,800 positive decisions, 12,600 deportations
In Austria, asylum was granted in a total of 16,787 cases last year. In absolute numbers, it is more than in 2022, with 13,779 positive notifications. The Federal Department of Immigration and Asylum and the judiciary made 60,513 legally negative decisions affecting a total of 33,480 people. However, people who receive subsidiary protection instead of asylum are also considered negative. A total of around 7,800 people received this latest status and humanitarian stay in the first eleven months – December is not yet available to the APA.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Office of Immigration and Asylum continues to rely on fast and urgent procedures. In 2023, 8,421 negative decisions were made in 28 days or 72 hours.
Additionally, the Federal Department carried out more than 12,600 deportations, of which 53% of departures were carried out independently and the remainder were involuntary. Of course, those deported are not only refugees, but also EU citizens who have to leave the country. In the case of forced deportations, around 45% of people have a criminal conviction. (APA)