Migration trends shift as EU asylum requests fall while Bosnia and Herzegovina sees increases

Migration trends show diverging patterns between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the broader European landscape. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Service for Foreigners' Affairs reported 3,468 migrants in the first quarter of the year, a 66 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Border police recorded 1,193 illegal crossings or attempts, marking a 76 percent rise. The most frequent nationalities involved in illegal crossings included citizens from Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey.

In contrast, asylum applications across the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland have decreased by 24.3 percent compared to the previous year. During the first nine months of 2026, 452,969 requests for international protection were registered. France recorded the highest number of applications with 98,822, followed by Italy with 78,496, while Germany fell to third place with 70,257 applications. At the EU level, the highest numbers of applicants originated from Afghanistan, Venezuela, and Bangladesh.