Number of asylum requests rising further in Q3 2021

Asylum reception centre in Rotterdam
© Hollandse Hoogte / Frank de Roo
In Q3 2021, the number of first-time asylum applications rose to 8,845. This is over two and a half times as high as in Q2. The increase has not been this high since the latter half of 2015. Syrian, Afghan and Turkish nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the rise. The number of following family members rose by 7 percent relative to the previous quarter. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on the most recent figures from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

First-time asylum applications and following family members
JaartalKwartaalAsylum applicationsFollowing family members (persons)
2018Q141552140
2018Q243201970
2018Q362051280
2018Q458351070
2019Q15380845
2019Q25190890
2019Q358701200
2019Q461001245
2020Q144701065
2020Q21255260
2020Q34100860
2020Q438951680
2021Q127351495
2021Q233552580
2021Q388452770
*Provisional figures

In Q3 2021, 8,845 first-time asylum requests were submitted. This is more than two and a half times the number in the second quarter, when 3,355 people submitted a first application. Just as in the preceding quarters, Syrian nationals constituted the largest group of asylum seekers with 2,550 first-time applications. This is more than two and a half times as many as in the second quarter (1,015).

After Syrians, Afghan and Turkish nationals constituted the largest groups in Q3. The sharpest increase was seen in the group of Afghan applicants. At 1,565, the number of first-time asylum applications was more than seven times as high as in the previous quarter, when 210 Afghan nationals sought asylum for the first time. The number of requests from Turkish nationals quadrupled, from 380 in Q2 to 1,540 in Q3.

First-time asylum applications, top 5 nationalities, Q3 2021
JaartalKwartaalSyrianAfghanTurkishSomaliYemeni
2018Q1575651752550
2018Q2700653203065
2018Q397012046040160
2018Q47257534545250
2019Q15756530045170
2019Q27258530540125
2019Q3111013534570145
2019Q4126515030565205
2020Q1109515525050135
2020Q236020501565
2020Q313707045065125
2020Q412451402407580
2021*Q1*900145954575
2021*Q2*101521038085105
2021*Q3*255015651540405320
*Provisional figures

7 percent more following relatives than in Q2

In Q3 2021, the Netherlands received 2,770 people arriving for family reunification , 190 more than in the previous quarter (+7 percent). The increase is almost entirely on account of Syrian and Turkish nationals. The number of Syrian family members rose by 145 compared to the previous quarter, while the number of Turkish family members was up by 130 in the same period. The number of Eritrean and Yemeni nationals decreased compared to the previous quarter, by 135 and 60 respectively.

Following family members, top 5 nationalities, Q3 2021
JaartalKwartaalSyrianTurkishEritreanStatelessYemeni
2018Q1655109158525
2018Q2645107706545
2018Q3375205055045
2018Q4460103754015
2019Q1290103553015
2019Q2250204202540
2019Q3310305403585
2019Q4515204655055
2020Q1315205103075
2020Q270101201520
2020Q33551651152555
2020Q47206032065275
2021*Q1*7601759530195
2021*Q2*164014027565170
2021*Q3*1785270140125110
*Provisional figures