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In Austria, national legislation does not foresee general preliminary checks for all third-country nationals at the point of entry. Instead, such checks are only carried out within the framework of the asylum procedure. These preliminary measures consist primarily of identification procedures, particularly the collection of fingerprints, and health checks, most notably lung examinations (see Reception conditions – Health care). However, there are no specific procedures aimed at identifying vulnerabilities that are not already apparent.
The responsible authority for carrying out these checks is the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA), with medical examinations conducted by doctors acting on behalf of the BFA. These assessments take place in designated initial reception centers, the most prominent of which is located in Traiskirchen. There is no legal maximum time limit within which these checks must be completed.
While these procedures do not necessarily entail detention, restrictions on freedom of movement may apply. In practice, applicants may be required to remain within a specific administrative district during the admissibility procedure, particularly under the Dublin Regulation.
The purpose of these checks is primarily to gather personal and medical data; they do not result in a formal decision or outcome that can be legally challenged. Importantly, individuals subject to these checks will have already lodged an application for asylum prior to their initiation. Therefore, the checks do not affect the initiation of the asylum process, nor do they alter the legal obligations of the authorities in this regard.