Austria’s Interior Ministry has published its first-quarter 2026 migration statistics, showing that 1,882 foreign nationals were removed from the country between January and March. Of these, 1,658 were formal deportations while 224 were transfers carried out under the EU’s Dublin rules. By contrast, the period saw only about 1,100 new asylum applications, confirming that removals are now outstripping arrivals. The data reveal sharp regional differences. Citizens of neighbouring EU states such as Slovakia and Hungary were far more likely to be forcibly removed than to leave voluntarily: only 23 of 322 Hungarians and 30 of 529 Slovaks departed on their own initiative. Syrians, by contrast, overwhelmingly opted for voluntary return, accounting for 268 of 279 exits. The ministry also stepped up status-revocation proceedings. Some 3,061 investigations into the withdrawal of refugee or subsidiary-protection status were opened, and protection was formally revoked in nearly 1,100 cases—most frequently affecting Syrians (502) and Russians (359). For employers, the figures underline the continuing compliance risks when hiring third-country nationals or EU posting workers. Even brief, project-based assignments can trigger registration duties under Austria’s Employment of Foreign Nationals Act; loss of status or overstays can expose firms to fines of up to €50,000 per worker. Multinationals should review their Austrian mobility policies, ensure that posted workers keep valid residence titles, and plan for longer lead times if appeals or humanitarian exemptions become necessary. The ministry is expected to publish second-quarter data in July, and most observers anticipate that deportation numbers will remain high as Vienna continues its “return first” strategy.
Source: Kurier
