Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
2 Panayot Volov Str. Oborishte Distr. Sofia-grad 1038 Sofia
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
13 May 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
13 May 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
15 September 2025
3.1. Data description
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Asylum applications withdrawn by citizenship, age, sex and type of withdrawal (also for unaccompanied minors);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).
3.2. Classification system
Similar as Eurostat.
Authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons is not applicable as a decision on asylum protection.
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Asylum statistics.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Similar concepts as Eurostat.
Authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons is not applicable as a decision on asylum protection.
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
3.5. Statistical unit
Persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Third-country nationals and stateless persons.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
3.7. Reference area
Bulgaria
3.8. Coverage - Time
Time coverage according to Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, from January 2008, eventually January 2021.
Data on first-time asylum applicants are not available from January 2008 to December 2010.
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar month, calendar quarter and calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
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.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
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.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
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 ensuring of the confidentiality are in accordance with the Protection of personal data act.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
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.
8.1. Release calendar
Not available.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not available.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The State Agency for Refugees publishes aggregated monthly data on applications for international protection and decisions taken on its website.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Datasets on asylum statistics are published on the State Agency for Refugees website.
The automatic electronic database is not available online for all datasets.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata is not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
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.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
No documentation on methodology available.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
No documentation on quality management available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Compilation of data is following the guidelines and instructions provided by Eurostat. Consistency validation checks are performed.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Asylum statistics in the Republic of Bulgariaare 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.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
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.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not conducted.
12.3. Completeness
The required disaggregation for all datasets is complete.
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
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.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
See below.
13.3.1. Coverage error
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.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
National data is checked and validated by visual confirmation and manual cross-checking of the data by the statistical experts.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not available.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
After the end of the reference period, the country is able to report asylum data in 3 to 5 days at the earliest.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are delivered on time.
See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas in Bulgaria.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data are comparable over time, except data on subsidiary protection.
Break in the time series of data for persons granted subsidiary protection status in November 2017.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
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.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Fully coherent.
No additional costs.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There is no specific national revision policy for asylum statistics.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No planned data revisions.
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers and its territorial units.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Monthly, quarterly and annually.
18.3. Data collection
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.
18.4. Data validation
Before being loaded in the database, internal consistency of the file is ensured.
18.5. Data compilation
Data is processed by the State Agency of Refugees Bulgaria, according to the rules for validation and control of the technical guidelines by Eurostat.
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).
15 September 2025
Similar concepts as Eurostat.
Authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons is not applicable as a decision on asylum protection.
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
Persons.
Third-country nationals and stateless persons.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
Bulgaria
Calendar month, calendar quarter and calendar year.
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.
Number of persons.
Data is processed by the State Agency of Refugees Bulgaria, according to the rules for validation and control of the technical guidelines by Eurostat.
State Agency for Refugees with the Council of Ministers and its territorial units.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
Annually.
After the end of the reference period, the country is able to report asylum data in 3 to 5 days at the earliest.
Statistics are comparable between geographical areas in Bulgaria.
Data are comparable over time, except data on subsidiary protection.
Break in the time series of data for persons granted subsidiary protection status in November 2017.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Asylum’.
