Nearly 40 percent fewer asylum seekers in 2020

Last year, 13,720 asylum seekers submitted a first-time asylum request, approximately 40 percent less than one year previously. Especially in Q2, there were substantially fewer asylum seekers compared to the same quarter of the previous year, after travel restrictions were introduced in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The number of first-time asylum applications stood at 1,255 in that quarter, a year-on-year decline of 76 percent. April saw the lowest number of asylum seekers within one month (270) since the start of the series in 2013.

In the period May through September 2020, the number of asylum request showed an increase again. The Netherlands received a total of 4,100 asylum seekers in Q3 2020, 30 percent less than one year previously. In the final quarter of 2020, the number fell again slightly to 3,895 submissions of first-time asylum requests.

Almost 1 in 3 asylum seekers from Syria

As in previous years, people with Syrian nationality formed the largest group of asylum seekers, accounting for almost 30 percent (4,070) of the total in 2020. The number of Syrian nationals entering the Netherlands rose by 395 compared to 2019. This also makes Syria the only country from which there were more asylum seekers in 2020 than in 2019.

In 2020, 995 Algerian nationals applied for asylum, slightly more than people with Turkish nationality. In addition, 775 asylum seekers with Moroccan nationality and 635 with Nigerian nationality came to the Netherlands.

Less rapid decrease in following relatives than in asylum requests

The number of following family members fell to 3,865 in 2020. This is 8 percent less than in 2019. Family reunification was mainly down in Q2 2020, when 260 (71 percent less than in 2019) relatives came to the Netherlands.

Due to the COVID-19 measures, embassies closed or limited many of their consular services in Q2. This included suspending the issuance of provisional residence permits. Travel to the European Union was also limited or impossible. Subsequently, many consular services were made available again and borders were gradually reopened as well.

In Q3 and Q4, the number of following relatives rose again, to 860 and 1,680 respectively.

Following relatives also mainly from Syria

Similar to the group of asylum seekers, Syrian nationals formed the largest group of following family members, with almost 38 percent of the total. A total of 1,460 Syrian following relatives came to the Netherlands, 95 more than in 2019.