1. Summary of September 2025 asylum statistics
In September 2025 the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) decided on 27,487 asylum cases and registered 9,126 first-time asylum applications. These figures sit within a clear downward trend in asylum statistics for 2025: total first-time applications for the year fell to 113,236 (51 percent fewer than in 2024), and by the end of November 2025 roughly 106,000 first applications had been recorded — about half the level of the previous year.
Key figures and quick facts
- Decisions in September 2025 (BAMF): 27,487
- First-time asylum applications in September 2025: 9,126
- Total first-time applications in 2025: 113,236 (down 51% vs. 2024)
- First-time applications by end of November 2025: ~106,000 (about half of 2024)
- Asylum procedures decided by end of November 2025: ~231,750
- Overall protection rate (Gesamtschutzquote) by end of November 2025: 21.5%
- Protection rate for substantive decisions in decided cases: 53%
2. Why the numbers fell: policy and context
The decline in asylum applications and related decisions in 2025 is closely linked to political changes and measures introduced during the year. Several policy interventions aimed at tightening migration controls are widely seen as contributing to lower application numbers and fewer admissions.
Political measures and their role
Measures credited with reducing arrivals and applications include stricter border controls, the suspension of family reunification in some cases, and an explicit shift in migration policy often referred to as a ‘migration turnaround’. Advocates of these steps argue that a clearer, firmer stance on migration sends a deterrent signal and reduces incentives for irregular movements. Keywords connected to this policy narrative include migration policy, border controls, family reunification, and deportation strategy.
Criticism and human rights concerns
Civic groups and refugee advocates describe the overall development as a ‘bitter bilan’ for refugee protection. Critics point to thousands of returns and rejections at borders and argue that measures such as suspending resettlement programs or withdrawal of earlier admission assurances erode protection. Human rights experts stress that any deportation policy must respect legal protections and avoid sending people back to life-threatening conditions; they emphasize case-by-case asylum decisions and the existence of deportation bans for people at risk due to poverty or threats to life.
3. Asylum decisions and protection rates
Looking beneath headline numbers, asylum decision outcomes and protection rates reveal important nuances. Two widely used indicators — the overall protection rate and the protection rate for substantive decisions — tell overlapping but different stories about how many people are recognized as needing protection.
Overall protection rates
By the end of November 2025 the overall protection rate was around 21.5 percent. When focusing on substantive (in-content) decisions, the protection rate rises to about 53 percent for decided cases, reflecting that many positive outcomes are concentrated among certain groups and in full asylum examinations. Understanding both measures is important to interpret how many people ultimately receive protection versus how many applications are lodged or processed.
Situation for Syrian applicants
The situation for applicants from Syria shifted markedly in 2025. After the BAMF resumed processing some procedures in October, more than 5,000 Syrian cases were rejected, and protection rates for Syrians fell dramatically to around 5 percent in certain decision batches. Separately, by the end of September authorities recorded 234 deportation decisions concerning people from Syria; about one in three of those decisions upheld protection. These developments highlight how shifts in processing practices and policy focus can produce sharp changes in protection outcomes for specific nationalities.
4. Quick reference table of key figures
The table below summarizes the most important numbers and trends mentioned above for quick reference.
| Indicator | Value (2025) |
|---|---|
| Decisions by BAMF in September 2025 | 27,487 |
| First-time asylum applications in September 2025 | 9,126 |
| Total first-time applications in 2025 | 113,236 (−51% vs. 2024) |
| First-time applications by end of November 2025 | ~106,000 (about half of 2024) |
| Asylum procedures decided by end of November 2025 | ~231,750 |
| Overall protection rate (Gesamtschutzquote) | 21.5% |
| Protection rate for substantive decisions | 53% |
| Protection rate for Syrians in recent batches | ≈5% after October resumptions |
| Recorded deportation decisions for Syrians by end of Sept | 234 (about one third granted protection) |
| Reported rejections/returns at borders since May | Over 21,500 |
| Source: national asylum statistics and official decisions summarized for September–November 2025 | |
5. What to watch next
Looking ahead, several issues will shape asylum statistics and public debate: legal challenges to policy measures, the pace and scope of deportation initiatives, changes to family reunification rules, and international developments affecting displacement. Observers should monitor how case-by-case legal standards and international protection obligations are applied as authorities process backlogs and adapt procedures.
Key monitoring points
- Trends in first-time asylum applications and whether the decline continues.
- Changes in protection rates for different nationalities, especially groups like Syrians.
- Legal outcomes and human rights challenges to deportation plans or policy changes.
- Policy signals on border controls, family reunification, and resettlement programs.
- Practical effects on asylum seekers, families, and reception systems.
These asylum statistics are more than numbers: they reflect policy choices, legal standards, and real consequences for people seeking protection. Clear, transparent data and careful attention to human rights will remain essential as migration policy and asylum practice evolve.
