# Asylum processing and appeal delays in Germany

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/asylum-processing-and-appeal-delays-in-germany
> Updated: 2026-10-11T02:30:00.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 2.

Administrative delays regarding asylum processes are increasing in Germany. In Hamburg, the average processing time for new asylum benefit applications reached 98 working days by mid-September. This backlog has contributed to a 40 percent increase in urgent proceedings at the Hamburg Social Court since January, while emergency consultation availability has halved since December.

On a national level, the average duration for court appeals against decisions made by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) rose to 15.3 months in the first half of the year, up from 14.3 months the previous year. This reversal follows a downward trend in durations seen between 2021 and 2024. Regional data shows significant disparities, with Saxony and Lower Saxony experiencing the longest delays at approximately 20 months, while Rhineland-Palatinate and Bavaria report shorter durations of roughly 9 to 11 months.

The federal government attributes the rising duration of legal appeals to an increase in the total number of appeals and the growing complexity of situations in countries of origin. Specifically, high volumes of appeals from individuals from Turkey and Venezuela have been noted, with Saxony experiencing a high number of Venezuelan claimants.

## Claims

- Asylum appeal proceedings in German courts averaged 15.3 months in the first half of the year. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The average duration for asylum appeal proceedings in the previous year was 14.3 months. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Saxony had the longest average asylum appeal duration at 20.4 months. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Lower Saxony recorded an average asylum appeal duration of 20 months. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Rhineland-Palatinate had an average asylum appeal duration of 9.2 months. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Bavaria had an average asylum appeal duration of 10.7 months. (corroborated by 8 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-11: Germany asylum appeal processes see increased duration

Legal appeals against asylum decisions in Germany are taking longer, averaging 15.3 months, with Saxony recording the longest delays at over 20 months.

27 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-asylum-appeal-durations-increase-with-saxony-seeing-longest-delays

### 2026-10-04: Hamburg asylum benefit processing delays reach 98 days

Asylum seekers in Hamburg face average benefit processing delays of 98 working days, leading to a 40 percent increase in urgent legal proceedings at the city's social court.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hamburg-asylum-benefit-processing-delays-reach-98-days

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Cite as: Asylum processing and appeal delays in Germany. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/asylum-processing-and-appeal-delays-in-germany