Austria’s police and immigration authorities issued nearly 2,800 residence bans last year, highlighting growing concerns over public order and security, according to the country’s latest foreign nationals statistics.
Official data show that 2,753 residence bans were imposed in total, with men accounting for a large majority 2,201 cases. Under Austrian law, such bans can be issued not only against third country nationals but also against EU citizens and privileged non EU residents if their personal conduct is deemed a threat to public order or safety.
By nationality, Romanian citizens were by far the most affected, with 929 residence bans, followed by nationals from Slovakia and Hungary. Authorities did not specify individual offenses but stressed that each decision was based on assessed risks to public security.
In addition, 2,318 entry or re-entry bans were imposed alongside formal return decisions. In this category, Serbian nationals topped the list, ahead of citizens from Turkey and Albania.
Detention measures were also widely used. Police ordered detention pending deportation (Schubhaft) in 2,313 cases, while 279 individuals were subjected to alternative measures. These included reporting obligations to authorities or orders to remain at a designated place of residence steps intended to ensure compliance while avoiding full detention.
Austria recorded a total of 14,156 departures last year. Of these, 6,801 were enforced removals, including 947 Dublin transfers, where responsibility for asylum or immigration procedures lies with another EU country. Germany and Italy were Austria’s most frequent partners in these transfers. Conversely, Germany and France most often approached Austria, asserting that responsibility for certain cases rested with Austrian authorities.
Meanwhile, 7,355 people left Austria voluntarily, either with the help of return assistance programs or through regular departures such as flights. Authorities noted that the number of people who may have left the country without official contact cannot be reliably tracked.
Together, the figures paint a detailed picture of Austria Police’s expanding role in migration control, balancing enforcement, cooperation with EU partners, and alternative measures amid ongoing debates over security and migration policy.
