Germany – Asylum applications rise, but the long-term downward trend continues

The number of people who filed a first application for asylum in Germany rose in September compared with the previous month, but the general long-term downward trend continued, according to the German Interior Ministry.

“The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) registered 5,276 first asylum applications during the past month,” a ministry spokeswoman said.

The figure was 40% lower than in September last year and 70% lower than in September 2024.

“The significant drop in the number of asylum applications shows that our measures at the national and European level are producing results,” said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

According to him, the European Union is continuing efforts to reform the asylum system, including a crisis-response mechanism aimed at protecting the EU’s external borders from large flows of migrants, a rapid-reaction force of the European border agency Frontex and accelerated procedures at the borders.

After around 5,550 first asylum applications in May, the number fell further, with fewer than 4,000 applications registered in both July and August.

The rise in repeat asylum applications in recent months from people who have lived in Germany for a long time is linked to an October 2024 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union on Afghanistan.

The Court determined that women from Afghanistan, where power has returned to the Taliban since 2021, generally have the right to receive protection.