National Statistical Institute; Sofia, Bulgaria

Population and Housing Fund Statistics Department

Not applicable.

Data collection on asylum statistics contains statistical information based on the Article 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.

Asylum applications:

• Asylum, first time and subsequent applicants by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Persons subject of asylum applications pending at the end of month by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Asylum applications withdrawn by citizenship, age, sex and type of withdrawal (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Asylum applicants having had their applications processed under the accelerated procedure by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Applicants having benefited from material reception conditions at the end of the reference year;
• Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors by citizenship, age and sex.

Decisions on asylum applications:

• First instance decisions on applications by citizenship, age, sex and type of decision (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Decisions withdrawing status granted at first instance decision by citizenship, type of decision and type of reason (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Final decisions in appeal or review on applications by citizenship, age, sex and type of decision (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Decisions withdrawing status granted as final decision in appeal or review by citizenship, type of decision and type of reason (also for unaccompanied minors).

Resettled persons:

• Resettled persons by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Resettled persons by citizenship, age, sex and country of previous residence;
• Resettled persons by citizenship, age, sex and type of decision;
• Resettled persons by citizenship, age, sex and resettlement framework. 

In March 2022, the European Commission activated the Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC for people from Ukraine seeking refuge.

Temporary protection:

• Decisions granting temporary protection by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors);
• Beneficiaries of temporary protection at the end of the month by citizenship, age and sex (also for unaccompanied minors).

See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Migration and asylum – Asylum statistics.

See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Persons.

See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

The territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. 

See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Not applicable.

Number of persons.

Calendar month, calendar quarter and calendar year.

This metadata information is provided by the authorities of Bulgaria to ensure compliance with the requirements of Article 4.1-4.3 (Asylum statistics) of Regulation 862/2007 on Community Statistics on Migration and International Protection.

As required by Article 9 of the Regulation 862/2007, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide Eurostat with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.

The source of Asylum statistical data is The State Agency for Refugees. 

The State Agency for Refugees has been providing the relevant and applicable for Bulgaria asylum statistical data to Eurostat in compliance with the requirements of Article 4.1-4.3 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 since 2008.

Since 2021 this data is transmitted through National Statistical Institute based on national Agreement for cooperation and strategic partnership to transfer of data №08-151 signed on 22nd December 2020.

The State Agency for Refugees (SAR) with the Council of Ministers publishes monthly data on applications for international protection and decisions taken, 15 days after the reference period. Stakeholders such as EASO, UNHCR, IOM, NGOs working with asylum seekers can also request specific data with specific breakdowns. Citizens may also request access to asylum data through a strictly legally regulated procedure for access to public information in accordance with The access to public information act. 

Any processing of personal data by SAR is based on a valid legal basis and is carried out in compliance with the statutory, regulatory framework and approved internal rules. The SAR is operating as a data аdministrator in accordance with the Protection of personal data act and, as such, has adopted the Policy for protection of personal data. Technical and organizational measures have been introduced to ensure that the processing of personal data is consistent with the Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council as well as with the applicable national and European legislation in the area of personal data protection and the regulatory framework in the field of the asylum and international protection. 

The State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers processes personal data:

- pursuant to a legal obligation in accordance with Article 6 (1) b of Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Regulation 2016/679) on the basis of the 1951 Refugee Convention; The Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees from January 31st 1967; the European legislation in the area of the international protection and asylum and the national legislation (Law for asylum and refugees).

- on the basis of consent of the data subject - Art. 6, (1) a of Regulation 2016/679 for activities of international organizations and NGOs in the territorial divisions of SAR with the Council of Ministers, as well as sound recording, video recording, photography for the participation of applicants for international protection in cultural and media events. 

The personal data of third-country nationals and stateless persons is processed and used for the purpose of conducting the procedure for international protection. SAR employees must follow the principles of confidentiality when processing applicant's personal data. Procedural rules, obliged for every user who processes personal data, are set up to define specific actions and rules for access and protection of personal data. 

 External users may not access micro-data. Micro-data can only be accessed by the Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers. 

There are internal regulations and guidelines setting up rules for the use of the electronic information system. Every user of the system is obliged to follow the rules for confidentiality during the collection and dissemination of the data. The personal data of third-country nationals and stateless persons is processed and used specifically for the purpose of conducting the procedure for international protection. SAR employees must follow the principles of confidentiality when processing applicant's personal data. Procedural rules, obliged for every user who processes personal data, are set up to define specific actions and rules for access and protection of personal data. 

Before granting access to the system, each employee undergoes individual training on how to work with the system and the rules for using the database are introduced. Every employee who has access to the electronic system signs confidentiality commitment. 

All the procedures regarding the collection, processing and dissemination of data and the ensurance of the confidentiality are in accordance with the Protection of personal data act. 

The State Agency for Refugees publishes aggregated monthly statistical data on applications for international protection and decisions taken, 15 days after the reference period. Stakeholders such as EASO, UNHCR, IOM, NGOs working with asylum seekers can also request specific data with specific breakdowns. All the statistical asylum datasets that are disseminated do not contain any personal data and are not considered as sensitive or classified in accordance with the Protection of classified information act. Citizens may also request access to asylum data through a strictly legally regulated procedure for access to public information in accordance with The access to public information act. The asylum statistical data is aggregated before being published. 

Not available.

Not available.

Not applicable.

Annually.

The State Agency for Refugees publishes aggregated monthly data on applications for international protection and decisions taken on its website. 

Datasets on asylum statistics are published on the State Agency for Refugees website.

The automatic electronic database is not available online for all datasets.

Not applicable.

Microdata is not disseminated.

The State Agency for Refugees sends monthly data on applications, decisions, and pending cases to UNHCR, IOM and NGO partners who work with asylum seekers. A monthly meeting is also held at SAR HQ with these stakeholders where the data and various trends are discussed, and feedback on the data is received.

Not applicable.

No documentation on methodology available.

Not applicable.

No documentation on quality management available.

Compilation of data is following the guidelines and instructions provided by Eurostat. Consistency validation checks are performed.

Asylum statistics in the Republic of Bulgaria are mainly based on administrative sources. Bulgaria is following the requirements of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 and the quality of the data may be assessed as Very good. 

The statistics collected under Regulation (EC) 862/2007 are used by a wide range of users at national, European and International level to cover various user needs.

Users of Asylum statistics are different interested parties such as:

• national authorities (Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Justice, Migration agencies) who use Asylum data to monitor or project the development of their national asylum procedures;
• NGOs and international organisations;
• researchers and students conducting analysis and research in the field of asylum, etc.

Not conducted.

See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Not applicable.

The accuracy of the data is checked at a national level. There are no discrepancies between the monthly, quarterly and annual data and the aggregated data. 

The assessment of the accuracy of the national Asylum statistics can be classified as good (95 - 99 % accuracy) for all datasets.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See below.

There are no potential coverage errors (undercoverage, overcoverage, double counting) and discrepancies from the Eurostat target population for asylum statistics.

Major change for persons granted subsidiary protection at first instance. Until 15 November 2017 the electronic database (AIS "Refugees") extracted datasets for first instance decisions, which counted decisions from the date on which the decision was entered into the system, and not the actual date of the issuing of the decision (there are 3 days lag from these occurrences, and during periods of a large influx of applicants can be more). In addition, before that date, the demographic data of the applicant (AGE, SEX, CITIZENSHIP) of the decision was the same as that of the application, regardless of whether it was subsequently changed in the system.

As of 15 November 2017, the system was amended to count decisions from the moment of issuing and the demographic data of the applicant is accurate for the moment the decision was issued.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

National data is checked and validated by visual confirmation and manual cross-checking of the data by the statistical experts.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not available.

Not applicable.

After the end of the reference period, the country is able to report asylum data in 3 to 5 days at the earliest.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Not applicable.

See below.

Not applicable.

See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The monthly data on Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors are consistent with the annual datasets for Asylum applicants considered to be Unaccompanied Minors. 

The age used for the monthly datasets is the age claimed by the applicant and accepted by SAR and in case of changes following an age assessment procedure those are reported in the annual datasets.

Not applicable.

Fully coherent.

No additional costs.

There is no specific national revision policy for asylum statistics.

See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Not applicable.

See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum 2023’.

Monthly, quarterly and annually.

Data is collected and prepared by the State Agency of Refugees Bulgaria and transmitted to Eurostat by NSI Bulgaria.

Data is collected through administrative sources, and it is based on an administrative data process.

Before being loaded in the database, internal consistency of the file is ensured.

Data is processed by the State Agency of Refugees Bulgaria, according to the rules for validation and control of the technical guidelines by Eurostat.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

No statistical technique applied.