Overview and key figures
In October 2025 the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) decided on over 31,964 asylum cases and received 8,823 first-time asylum applications. For the whole year 2025 about 113,236 first-time applications were registered, a sharp decline compared with previous years. By the end of November 2025 first-time applications were close to 106,000, roughly half compared with the prior year.
| Measure | Number (from context) |
|---|---|
| Asylum decisions in October 2025 (BAMF) | 31,964+ |
| First-time applications in October 2025 | 8,823 |
| First-time applications in 2025 (year) | 113,236 |
| First-time applications in 2024 | 229,751 |
| First-time applications in 2023 | 329,120 |
| First-time applications by end November 2025 | ~106,000 |
| Reported trends | 2025 down 51% vs 2024 and 66% vs 2023 |
BAMF decisions and Syrian cases
In October the BAMF resumed processing Syrian applications after a months-long pause and fully rejected over 5,000 Syrian cases. By the end of September there were 234 deportation decisions to Syria, about one third of which included continued protection. The protection rate for Syrian asylum claims in October was reported at about 4.17% (88 positive decisions out of 2,179 Syrian claims).
Net migration of Syrian nationals up to 31 October 2025 was 27,854, leaving a total of 944,060 Syrians living in Germany according to the reported figures.
Political response and policy measures
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) praised what he called a ‘Migrationswende’ — a turning point in migration policy — highlighting measures such as tighter border controls, the suspension of family reunification and intensified deportations. The government framed these changes as sending a clear signal from Germany that migration policy in Europe has changed.
NGO criticism and human-rights concerns
PRO ASYL and other NGOs sharply criticized practices such as pushbacks, reporting more than 21,500 rejections at borders since May. They also criticized the halt to UN resettlement programmes: of 13,100 promised resettlement places only 5,100 were realized. NGOs warn of falling protection rates and potential violations of asylum law, and call for targeted protection of vulnerable groups.
Deportations rose in 2025: by the end of November more than 21,311 people had been deported, about 20% more than in 2024. At the EU level the deportation rate rose to 27%. The reporting also notes ongoing conflicts over returns to Syria and Afghanistan (including 83 convicted offenders in 2025) and mentions first flights connecting to areas controlled by the Taliban and to destinations after Assad’s overthrow.
Trends and comparisons (2023–2025)
The asylum statistics show a steep downward trend in first-time asylum applications: about 113,236 in 2025, a 51% decrease compared with 229,751 in 2024 and a 66% decrease compared with 329,120 in 2023. By the end of November 2025 first-time applications were close to 106,000, roughly half of the prior year.
- Strong overall drop in asylum applications in 2025 versus 2024 and 2023.
- October 2025 saw resumed processing of Syrian cases but low protection rates for Syrians in that month.
- Deportations increased in 2025, contributing to government claims of a migration policy shift.
- EU-wide deportation rate rose to 27%, while disputes over returns to Syria and Afghanistan continue.
Implications for asylum seekers and policy
The combination of fewer first-time applications, resumed but restrictive processing of Syrian cases, increased deportations and reduced resettlement realisations has direct implications for asylum seekers and refugees. Lower protection rates and reported pushbacks can limit access to asylum procedures, while curtailed resettlement and family reunification reduce legal pathways for protection. NGOs have urged stronger safeguards for vulnerable people and legal oversight of border and return practices.
What to watch next
- Updated asylum and first-time application totals through the end of the year and into 2026.
- Trends in protection rates, especially for nationalities with resumed processing such as Syrians.
- Numbers of deportations and legal challenges to return decisions.
- Progress or further cuts in resettlement programmes and family reunification rules.
- Ongoing NGO monitoring of border practices and potential pushbacks.
Summary
October 2025 and the year-to-date figures show a marked decline in asylum applications in Germany while government policy emphasises border control and returns. The BAMF processed tens of thousands of cases in October, resumed Syrian processing with a low protection rate that month, and deportations increased in 2025. NGOs warn of human-rights concerns, pointing to pushbacks, fewer resettlement places and falling protection rates. Watching the coming months for changes in applications, protection rates and resettlement will be important for understanding how this migration policy shift affects refugees and asylum seekers.
