The national police press office said Hungary received from Austria 732 third-country citizens in January-July this year as against 111 in the same period of last year.

In line with the regulations, Austria can expel and return to Hungary non-European Union citizens who crossed the Hungarian-Austrian border illegally if they are not asylum-seekers, recognised refugees or eligible for protection in any other way.

If illegal border crossing is revealed by Austria within seven days, Hungary is expected to take back the migrant without any formal procedure but if it happened between the past seven and ninety days, then Austria is expected to submit a request of transfer to Hungary, to be assessed by the Hungarian authorities within 72 hours.

Once a migrant is returned by Austria, Hungary will launch its own procedure in his or her case and if a request for asylum is submitted then the immigration office will assess this.

If a request for asylum is not submitted, then police can further expel the person to a third country.

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MTI photo: Krizsán Csaba