Netherlands asylum applications fall by 13 percent in Q3 2026

The number of first-time asylum applications in the Netherlands decreased by 13 percent in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Nearly 5,900 people submitted asylum requests during this period.

The decline is primarily attributed to a significant drop in applicants from Eritrea and Syria, whose combined numbers halved from approximately 900 to 500. While applications from Ethiopia also fell sharply, there was a notable increase in arrivals from Ukraine. Despite the quarterly drop, total asylum applications for the first nine months of the year remain 8 percent higher than the previous year.

This quarter marked the first full period following the implementation of the new EU migration pact in June, which aims to accelerate procedures and strengthen border controls. Additionally, the number of family members joining status holders fell by over 30 percent, dropping to approximately 3,200. This decrease is largely due to new Dutch regulations regarding the two-status system, which requires certain status holders to wait two years and secure housing and income before bringing family members to the country.