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A total of 3,591 (2023: 3,998; 2022: 3,700, 2021: 4,023) people were detained on immigration-related grounds throughout 2024 but there is no public data available on how many of them are asylum seekers or how many persons applied for asylum during detention.[1] During 2024, 4 unaccompanied minors were held in detention.[2]
The average time of detention of minors was 18.5 days. However, in most cases, rejected asylum applicants are arrested 48 hours prior to deportation. This is not counted as formal detention prior to deportation, and data on arrests prior to detention without detention order is not available.
There are 3 large detention centres currently operating in Austria: Vordernberg, Styria; Police Apprehension Centres (PAZ) Vienna Hernalser Gürtel, PAZ Vienna Rossauer Lände.
There are 12 smaller Detention Centres (PAZ) under the responsibility of the police – Bludenz, Eisenstadt, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, Salzburg, St Pölten, Villach, Wels, Family apprehension centre Zinnergasse/Vienna and Wiener Neustadt – that are used for short term arrests. In most cases, detainees are transferred to the main centres after an average of 7 days.
The answer to a parliamentary request demonstrated that it is not possible to assess the total capacity of detention centres, as most of them are used for different measures (e.g. administrative and penal detention). Only the detention centre (Anhaltezentrum – AHZ) Vordernberg in Styria and PAZ Hernalser Gürtel and PAZ Roßauer Lände are designated for the sole purpose of pre-removal detention. The maximum total capacity of these three centres amounts to 667.[3]
In practice, asylum applicants are subject to detention mainly under Dublin procedures as well as de facto detention in the airport procedure. Persons who submit a subsequent asylum application are often detained as well. If a person applies for asylum while in detention, they may be detained during the admissibility procedure.
When asylum applicants are detained, the personal interview examining their application is held in the detention centre. Interpreters are present and legal representatives are summoned to the interview. The BFA may also order to bring the asylum applicant to the BFA for the interview. A trusted person has the right to be present at the interview of an asylum applicant. If the asylum application is processed as an inadmissible application a legal advisor counsels the asylum applicant before the interview and has to be present at the interview.
[1] Ministry of Interior, answer to parliamentary request 636/AB XXVIII. GP, 19 May 2025, available in German here.
[2] Ministry of Interior, answer to parliamentary request 631/AB XXVIII. GP, 19 May 2025, available in German here.
[3] Ministry of Interior, answer to parliamentary request 15846/AB XXVII. GP, 21 November 2024, available in German here.