Austria: Information for stateless people and those at risk of statelessness fleeing Ukraine

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 war in Ukraine, and the Austrian police have been ordered to take a flexible approach on documentation and standard of proof. [...] The visa can be issued by the authorities at the border of the EU country of first entry and will allow travel to the EU country of destination and enjoy the rights attached to temporary protection. [...] People who lack travel documents entirely may be permitted entry into the Schengen area at the discretion of the authorities at the border of the EU country of first entry, e.g. [...] They may be interviewed at the responsible office of the BFA to confirm the information required to determine their eligibility for temporary protection and residence permit . [...] Statelessness determination should be conducted either in parallel with or following the asylum status determination, with due regard to the primacy of the asylum claim and the principle of confidentiality for refugees in statelessness determination procedures.