Asylum decisions - quarterly statistics

Data extracted on 8 December 2025.

Planned article update: March 2026.

Highlights

In Q3 2025, EU countries granted protection status at first instance to 89 850 asylum seekers, down by 0.8% compared with the same quarter of 2024 and up 36.7% compared with Q2 2025.

Among persons granted protection status at first instance in the EU in Q3 2025, 49.4% received refugee status, 29.8% humanitarian status, and 20.8% subsidiary protection.

Afghans and Venezuelans were the main beneficiaries of protection status in the EU in Q3 2025.

This article describes recent developments in relation to the first instance decisions on applications for international protection in the European Union (EU). It looks at the main trends, including positive and negative decisions, and focuses on the 3 types of positive outcomes: refugee status, subsidiary protection and humanitarian status. It also provides information on the first instance decisions for unaccompanied minors and the number of decisions withdrawing protection status granted at first instance.

Main trends in the number of asylum decisions

In Q3 2025, 209 860 first instance decisions were issued in the EU, up 7.8% compared with the previous quarter (194 730) and up 16.3% compared with Q3 2024 (180 510). Out of these first instance decisions, 42.8% were positive (89 850) and 57.2% were negative decisions (120 010).

EU countries granted protection status at first instance to 89 850 persons in Q3 2025, which is 36.7% more than in the previous quarter (65 735) and 0.8% less than in Q3 2024 (90 535).

Among the asylum seekers granted positive decisions at first instance in Q3 2025, 49.4% received refugee status (44 385 persons), 29.8% received humanitarian status (26 820), and 20.8% were granted subsidiary protection (18 645) (Figure 1). Compared to the previous quarter, the number of humanitarian statuses granted increased by 44.6%, the number of refugee statuses increased by 41.1%, and the number of subsidiary protection increased by 18.5%. While refugee status and subsidiary protection are defined by EU law, the humanitarian status is specific to national legislation and does not apply in some EU countries.

Figure 1

First instance decisions by country of decision

The highest number of asylum seekers who received protection status at first instance in Q3 2025 was reported by Spain (25 005, 27.8% of the EU total), ahead of Germany (23 325, 26.0%), and France (16 245, 18.1%) (Figure 2). Altogether, these 3 countries granted 71.9% of the protection statuses at first instance in the EU in Q3 2025. Compared to the previous quarter, there was a 73.4% increase in Germany, 55.7% in Spain and 14.2% in France.

Figure 2

The distribution of first instance decisions by outcome (refugee status, subsidiary protection, humanitarian status and rejected) in Q3 2025 varied by country (Figure 3). The percentage of positive decisions was highest in Estonia (95.6%), Hungary (75.0%) and Greece (69.0%). By contrast, the lowest share of positive decisions at first instance was recorded in Cyprus (7.2%), Croatia (8.3%) and Slovenia (14.3%).

Figure 3

First instance decisions by citizenship of asylum seekers

In Q3 2025, Afghans received the largest number of protection statuses in the EU (27.7% of all persons granted protection status at the first instance in the EU, 24 920 persons), together with Venezuelans (22.9%, 20 600). They were followed by Ukrainians (5.2%, 4 675), Syrians (4.2%, 3 790), Somalis (3.7%, 3 360), Malians (3.3%, 2 955), Haitians (2.6%, 2 370), Turks (2.5%, 2 225) and Eritreans (2.0%, 1 835) (Figure 4).

Figure 4

In terms of the total number of first instance decisions, among the top 10 citizenships that received the highest number of decisions in the EU in Q3 2025, Venezuelans had the highest recognition rate (95.5%), followed by Ukrainians (73.8%) and Afghans (73.5%) (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Decisions on asylum applications for unaccompanied minors

In Q3 2025, for the 26 EU countries that reported data, 2 840 first instance decisions on asylum applications lodged by unaccompanied minors were made in the EU, which is 4.4% more than in the previous quarter (2 720).

These decisions resulted in 1 645 unaccompanied minors granted protection status, up 6.5% compared with the previous quarter (1 545). The recognition rate for unaccompanied minors was 57.9% in Q3 2025.

Germany issued the highest number of positive decisions on applications lodged by unaccompanied minors (490 persons, 29.8% of the EU total) (Figure 6), followed by Spain (290, 17.6% of the EU total) and Italy (235, 14.3% of the EU total). Compared to the previous period, 1 350% more positive decisions were issued in Spain (20 persons in Q2 2025), 11.9% more in Italy (210) and 27.9% less in Germany (680).

Figure 6

The main beneficiaries of protection status among unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the EU were Afghans (435 persons, 26.4% of the EU total), Malians (300, 18.2%) and Somalis (270, 16.4%). Malians unaccompanied minors had a recognition rate of 95.2%, Somalis 85.7% and Afghans 70.2%.

Decisions withdrawing protection status

EU countries may decide to withdraw protection status when new elements or findings arise indicating that there are reasons to reconsider the validity of protection.

In Q3 2025, EU countries took 5 095 decisions to withdraw protection status granted at first instance, up 52.1% compared with the previous quarter (3 350).

The highest number of decisions withdrawing protection status granted at first instance was reported by the Netherlands (1 040, 20.4% of the EU total), followed by Germany (980, 19.2%) and Austria (915, 18.0%). Compared to the previous quarter, there was a 333.3% increase in the Netherlands (240 persons in Q2 2025), a 69.4% increase in Austria (540) and a 40.0% increase in Germany (700) (Figure 7).

Figure 7

Source data for graphs

Quarterly data on asylum decisions

Data sources

Eurostat produces statistics on a range of issues relating to international migration under the provisions of Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007.

Data are provided to Eurostat with a monthly frequency (for asylum application statistics, including applications by unaccompanied minors), quarterly frequency (for first instance decisions) and annual frequency (for final decisions based on appeal or review and resettlement). The statistics are based on administrative sources and are provided to Eurostat by statistical authorities, ministries of the interior or related immigration agencies in the EU Member States.

Two different categories should be taken into account when analysing asylum statistics. The first includes asylum seekers who have lodged a claim (asylum application) and whose claim is under consideration by the relevant authority. The second is composed of persons who have been recognised, after consideration, as refugees, or have been granted another kind of international protection (subsidiary protection), or were granted protection on the basis of the national law related to international protection (authorisations to stay for humanitarian reasons), or were rejected from having any form of protection.

Statistics on asylum decisions are available for different stages of the asylum procedure. First instance decisions are decisions granted by the respective authority acting as a first instance of the administrative or judicial asylum procedure in the receiving country. By contrast, final decisions on appeal or review relate to decisions granted at the final instance of administrative or judicial asylum procedure and which result from an appeal lodged by an asylum seeker rejected in the preceding stage.

Limitations on data availability affecting the information presented in this article:

Data for humanitarian status is specific to national legislation and does not apply in some EU countries. They are not applicable for Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovenia.
Data for unaccompanied minor asylum applicants granted protection status at first instance, are missing for Cyprus from Q1 2021 to Q4 2023 (derogation), for Poland from Q1 2021 to Q4 2023 (derogation) and from Q1 2024 (not provided), and for Switzerland from Q1 2021 (not provided). EU aggregates have been computed based on available data.
Data for Spain from Q1 2025 are provisional.
Data for Iceland for Q3 2025 are not available.

The article presents statistical information on third-country nationals, meaning non-EU citizens (including stateless persons), seeking asylum in the EU and other European countries.

Data presented in this publication is rounded to the nearest five. Calculations were made with rounded numbers, so the sum of percentages or values may not equal 100 or the total value.

Context

The 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees (as amended by the 1967 New York Protocol) has, for over 70 years, defined who is a refugee, and laid down a common approach towards refugees, which has been one of the cornerstones for the development of a common asylum system within the EU. Since 1999, the EU has been working towards creating a common European asylum regime in accordance with the Geneva Convention and other applicable international instruments. The Directorate-General Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) is responsible for developing EU policies on asylum.

The Pact on Migration and Asylum, presented by the Commission in September 2020, was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024 and by the Council in May 2024. This Pact provides a common European response to migration. It allows the EU to manage migration in a fair and sustainable way, ensuring solidarity between countries while also providing certainty and clarity for people arriving in the EU and protecting their fundamental rights. The Pact on Migration and Asylum will ensure that countries share the effort responsibly, showing solidarity with the ones that protect our external borders and with those facing particular migratory pressure, while preventing irregular migration to the EU. The Pact also gives the EU and its countries the tools to react rapidly in situations of crisis, when countries are faced with large numbers of arrivals or when a third-country or non-State entity tries to instrumentalise migrants in order to destabilise the Union.

The main legal instruments on asylum are:

Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 (AMMR) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013;

Asylum Procedure Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU;

Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147;

Eurodac Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of biometric data in order to effectively apply Regulations (EU) 2024/1351 and (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 2001/55/EC and to identify illegally staying third-country nationals and stateless persons and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by EU countries’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Screening Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/817;

Qualification Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted, amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC and repealing Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council;

Reception Conditions Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection;

Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147.

The respective annual, quarterly and monthly datasets are available in the Eurostat database.

These data are usually compiled and transmitted to Eurostat by statistical authorities, ministries of the interior or related immigration agencies.