Overview: Asylum statistics for November 2025
In November 2025 the central asylum authority reported 27,193 asylum decisions and 8,311 first-time asylum applications received in that month. For the period January to November 2025 a total of 288,320 asylum cases were processed, including 235,501 first-time applications. The overall protection rate stood at 27.2 percent, with 78,496 positive decisions. Recognitions as refugees rose to 62,132, while subsidiary protection fell dramatically to 4,755, a drop of roughly 93.5 percent compared with 2024. These figures reflect major shifts in asylum outcomes and processing during 2025.
Key figures and trends in November 2025
- November decisions: 27,193 asylum decisions in November 2025.
- November first-time applications: 8,311 initial asylum applications recorded.
- January−November totals: 288,320 cases processed, including 235,501 first-time applications.
- Protection outcomes: overall protection quota 27.2% (78,496 positive decisions), refugee recognitions 62,132, subsidiary protection 4,755.
- Sharp declines: filed asylum applications decreased to 157,436 total (106,298 first-time), 33.4% fewer than the previous year.
Policy changes and their effects
Several policy measures and operational changes in 2025 shaped these numbers. Tighter border controls and widespread deportation activity contributed to fewer applications. Programs that previously offered legal pathways, such as resettlement channels, were suspended or limited, and governments moved to expand lists of designated safe origin countries. At the same time, measures like the temporary suspension of family reunification and broader asylum law reforms influenced both application volumes and decision patterns.
Border measures, resettlement, and safe countries
- Border rejections increased: since May more than 21,500 people faced immediate rejections at borders, reducing arrivals and formal asylum filings.
- Resettlement pause: suspension of some resettlement programs reduced avenues for recognized protection and legal pathways into the country.
- Designation of safe countries: plans to add more countries to ‘safe’ lists (for example Algeria and Morocco were discussed) aimed to speed up rejections and lower acceptance rates.
- Family reunification limits: temporary suspensions cut new lawful entries and affected vulnerable applicants dependent on reunification.
Criticism and human rights concerns
Civil society groups and refugee advocates criticized the policy shift as a ‘migration turn’ that leaves people without protection and may violate asylum law. Critics argue that rapid expulsions, tightened reception rights and stricter evidence rules undermine fair procedures. Specific concerns were raised about the treatment of Afghans and people fleeing the Gaza area, where cases were paused and then resumed with a high rate of rejections. NGOs also warned of humanitarian risks linked to accelerated deportation campaigns.
Applications, decisions, and demographic notes
Overall asylum filings fell sharply in 2025. Reported asylum applications for the year dropped to 157,436 (including 106,298 first-time applications), a fall of about one third compared with the prior year. The government highlighted a projected total of roughly 168,543 asylum applications for the whole year, celebrating a substantial decline from 2024. At the same time, protection outcomes varied by nationality: the protection rate for people from Syria fell noticeably, with over 3,500 rejections in November alone, even though many Syrians remain at risk. Some integrated refugees, particularly Syrians recognized earlier, continued to contribute to the labor market.
Data discrepancies and reporting differences
Different reporting sources show conflicting aggregates for the same period. One data series reported 231,750 decisions to November with a protection rate around 21.5 percent, while another analysis recorded higher volumes and a protection rate of 27.2 percent. Such discrepancies can come from different counting rules, cut-off dates, or classification of decisions and appeals. Readers should note that headline rates and totals may vary across official compilations and independent analyses.
| Indicator | Value (Nov 2025 / Jan−Nov 2025) |
|---|---|
| Decisions in November | 27,193 |
| First-time applications in November | 8,311 |
| Decisions Jan−Nov | 288,320 |
| First-time applications Jan−Nov | 235,501 |
| Overall protection rate | 27.2% (78,496 positive decisions) |
| Recognized as refugees | 62,132 |
| Subsidiary protection | 4,755 (approx. 93.5% decline vs 2024) |
| Filed asylum applications in 2025 | 157,436 (106,298 first-time) |
| Projected total applications for 2025 | 168,543 (government projection) |
| Share of unfounded rejections | 46.9% |
| Note: Different reporting sources may show varying totals and protection rates. | |
Outlook and what to watch
Going forward, key things to watch include the continued impact of restrictive policies on asylum applications, further legal and administrative changes such as expanded safe-country lists, and how courts and civil-society organizations respond to challenges over access to protection. Data transparency and consistency across reporting agencies will matter for understanding real trends: differences in totals and protection rates should prompt careful examination of methodology. Policymakers, advocates and the public will likely focus on the balance between migration control measures, compliance with asylum law, and humanitarian obligations as the situation evolves.
