Austria Tightens Airport Asylum Procedures Ahead of June Border Terminal Opening
Austria is implementing stricter asylum procedures at Vienna-Schwechat airport, a move framed as an early step in adopting the European Union’s new Common European Asylum System (GEAS) under the Migration and Asylum Pact. A new border terminal, designed to expedite processing and facilitate swift rejections, is slated to open on .
The reforms, announced in January 2026, centralize airport asylum claims at Vienna-Schwechat, consolidating police, caseworkers, interpreters, and removal logistics in one location. According to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, the changes are intended to disrupt smuggling networks and strengthen border control. “The migration transition will only work if we take advantage of expanded opportunities,” Karner said, adding that the reforms “deprive smugglers of their business basis.”
The asylum process at the airport will now consist of three stages: a police screening involving identity, security, and health checks, followed by an asylum procedure conducted by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum. If an application is denied, the return procedure will be initiated immediately. Individuals undergoing the border procedure will not be permitted to enter Austria and can be held in the transit area of the new terminal for up to 24 weeks, with a possible extension to 26 weeks in exceptional cases.
The new border terminal is not intended to replace the existing deportation terminal, officials clarified. The procedures will apply to asylum seekers from countries with low protection recognition rates, as well as those suspected of providing false information. While You’ll see six international airports in Austria – Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, and Klagenfurt – the border terminal will be located solely at Vienna Airport, with cases from other airports being consolidated there.
The airport is described by Director General for Public Security Franz Ruf as “Austria’s most important Schengen external border,” processing approximately ten million entries and exits annually, and receiving around 500 asylum applications each year. The airport itself is investing €7.5 million in the terminal’s construction, with an additional €4 million coming from the European Union.
These changes come amidst a broader overhaul of Austrian asylum law, which has faced resistance from the country’s nine provinces. On , provincial governors refused to sign a constitutional agreement related to the reforms, citing concerns over costs associated with special-needs cases and the opening of new reception centers. This impasse jeopardizes Austria’s timeline for full implementation of the EU’s GEAS, potentially impacting administrative processes related to corporate mobility.
The Interior Ministry had initially proposed an accelerated border procedure at the airport, lasting up to 18 weeks, for all asylum claims. However, without provincial funding for detention units and staffing, those plans are currently stalled. The reforms also introduce a ‘Charter of Values’ agreement, linking eligibility for social benefits to social conduct and participation in integration courses. Biometric data collection will now include children aged six and older, aimed at enhancing identity verification processes.
The implementation of the Entry-Exit System (EES) in October has also been noted as running smoothly, according to officials, with the system registering travelers from third countries intending short stays within the Schengen area upon entry and exit.
