Kazakhstan and Austria Sign Agreement on Return of Illegal Migrants

The Mazhilis, the lower house of the Kazakh Parliament, has ratified an agreement between Kazakhstan and Austria on the readmission and transit of persons residing illegally. The document was signed in Astana on February 28, 2025.

The agreement aims to establish a legal framework for cooperation between the two states in returning and transiting individuals who are present in either country in violation of national laws. It sets clear rules and deadlines for Kazakhstan and Austria to carry out the readmission of illegal migrants and persons who have lost their right to stay or reside.

The document also outlines a joint procedure for receiving, transferring, and transiting not only citizens of Kazakhstan and Austria but also nationals of third countries, as well as stateless persons. According to the agreement, citizens of third countries will be returned to their countries of citizenship. Stateless persons will be returned to the state of their last permanent residence or to the country that issued their travel documents.

The authorities responsible for implementing the agreement are Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Austria's Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum under its Federal Ministry of the Interior.