Austria has taken a firmer stance on migration in the first months of 2026, with nearly 1,900 people forced to leave the country between January and March, according to Kurier. According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, the number of removals has now surpassed new asylum applications, marking a shift in how the country manages irregular migration.
Official figures show that 1,882 people were compelled to leave Austria during this period, including 1,658 formal deportations. Others were transferred under the European Union’s Dublin system, which assigns responsibility for asylum claims to the first EU country an applicant enters. Austria sent more people to other EU states than it received back, highlighting an imbalance in the system.
At the same time, 1,693 people left voluntarily. Many received financial or logistical support, though their reasons varied widely. Some groups, such as Slovaks and Hungarians, were mostly forced to leave, while many Syrians chose to depart on their own. This contrast reflects changing conditions in their home country and growing uncertainty about their future in Austria.
A major development has been the large number of cases reviewing previously granted protection. Authorities opened over 3,000 such proceedings, with Syrians making up the largest group. This follows political changes in Syria after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. In total, more than 1,000 people lost their protection status, including hundreds of Syrians and Russians.
Enforcement measures also increased. Nearly 700 people were placed in detention pending removal, while others were monitored under less strict conditions. Meanwhile, EU citizens such as Romanians, Slovaks, and Hungarians were among those most frequently issued expulsion orders.
Family reunification remains temporarily suspended, though some cases continue to move forward. During the first quarter, authorities gave positive signals in 272 cases, many involving Syrians and Somalis. Temporary protection for Ukrainians also remains significant, with over 3,200 residence permits granted, including many to children.
Officials also carried out age checks on asylum seekers claiming to be minors. In most cases, authorities found the individuals were actually adults, a distinction that affects legal protections.
Minister Karner described the figures as a sign of stricter enforcement. With just over 1,000 new asylum applications filed during the same period, far fewer than those leaving, Austria appears to be tightening control. Still, behind the numbers are thousands of personal stories shaped by conflict, uncertainty, and difficult choices.
