BFA publishes data for first quarter 2026, with trends from 2025 continuing

The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) published statistics for the first quarter of 2026, which recorded more removals than asylum applications from January-March 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026, there were 1,074 initial asylum applications registered in Austria. In the same period, a total of 3,575 persons had to leave Austria, of which 53% (1,882) were forcibly removed and 47% (1,693) were voluntary departures. 279 of the 3,575 persons were Syrian nationals, coming in fourth place in terms of nationality, after Türkiye, Hungary and Slovakia.

Almost 46% of those removed had a criminal conviction in Austria. By the end of March 2026, 224 Dublin transfers had been carried out as well, 31 Afghans, 26 Algerians and 20 Russians having to leave Austria.

In the first quarter of 2026, there were 25 arrivals under family reunification compared to 401 arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, as the suspension of family reunification continued.

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