Austria: Information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine ENS Focal Point: Leonhard Call, Individual Associate Member of ENS Last updated: 24 May 2022 This briefing provides country-specific information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine. It is intended as a source of information for refugee response actors and affected individuals. The focus is on stateless people and people at risk of statelessness, including those who are undocumented. Links to more general information for refugees from Ukraine are provided throughout. We will endeavour to keep this information updated. Please contact Ukraine.crisis@statelessness.eu if you have relevant updates. Unless otherwise shown, the source of information provided is the ENS Focal Point. 1. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & REGISTRATION According to the Federal Ministry of Austria (BMI), by 24 May 2022 around 72,500 people fleeing Ukraine had been registered in Austria, among whom 52,000 were receiving basic welfare support. There are no exact figures on the current number of Ukrainian refugees in Austria. All persons fleeing Ukraine may enter Austria on humanitarian grounds and must register before the authorities. The European Commission confirms that a lack of travel documents or medical documents (certificate of vaccination, COVID-19 test) should not be an obstacle to entering the EU throughout the Ukraine crisis, and the Austrian police have been ordered to take a flexible approach on documentation and standard of proof. There are no reports of pushbacks or refusal of entry at the border. Volunteers and NGOs are present at the border with Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, as well as at Vienna’s main train station (Wiener Hauptbahnhof) providing essential support and accommodation. While entry to Austria is generally permitted to everyone fleeing Ukraine, there are very few routes to protection or regularisation for stateless persons, persons at risk of statelessness, and undocumented persons (see section 2). These persons are strongly advised to seek legal advice as soon as possible (see contact details below). Documents required • • • Entry and registration • • • The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA) advises everyone to bring a passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, other civil status documents, or other identity documents (e.g. ID card, driving licence, residence permit) if possible, but police must take a flexible approach on documentation and standard of proof Stateless people are advised to take any documents they may have to facilitate their access to protection or a route to regularisation in Austria (i.e., residence permit, proof of international protection in Ukraine, application under a relevant procedure, or any other civil documentation) Undocumented people fleeing Ukraine should be permitted to enter Austria but are strongly advised to seek legal advice as soon as possible Everyone fleeing Ukraine can enter Austria on humanitarian grounds (including stateless/undocumented persons), and no one will be required to return to Ukraine Everyone fleeing Ukraine is required to register with the police at specific police stations or reception centres (Erfassungsstellen) to receive basic welfare support (see points of contact); biometric data is taken from anyone over the age of 14 The Humanitarian Arrival Centre of Vienna (Humanitäres Ankunftszentrum) is the first point of contact for essential supplies; once accommodation is found, people must report to the relevant registration office (Gemeindeamt/Magistrat), complete an application form, and register any change of residence.