Asylum applications drop 13% under EU migration pact
The number of first-time asylum applications in the Netherlands fell by 13% in the third quarter of 2026, compared with...
In the third quarter of 2026, the Netherlands saw a 13% decline in first-time asylum applications compared to the same period in 2025, according to data from the national statistics bureau CBS and immigration service IND. The drop aligns with the introduction of the European Union Migration Pact, which took effect in June 2026 and introduced stricter guidelines, abolished permanent asylum residence permits, and tightened family reunification criteria.
These changes were inspired by former asylum minister Marjolein Faber's push for the "strictest asylum policy ever" and her goal of making the Netherlands less appealing to asylum seekers. In Q3 2026, a total of 5,900 individuals submitted their first asylum application, a decrease of 850 applications from the previous year. Applications from Eritreans and Syrians dropped by half, while family reunification applications fell by 1,500 compared to 2025.
Eritreans filed the most asylum claims, closely followed by Syrians. Notably, Ukrainian applications surged from 15 to 140, while Ethiopian applications decreased from 290 to 75. For Dutch News to continue providing free, important news, reader donations are crucial. Your support enables the reporting of issues you deem significant and daily summaries of the most critical Dutch news.
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