Escalating Waiting Times for Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers in the Netherlands are experiencing prolonged delays in the assessment of their cases by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Despite a legal decision period of six months, the Dutch government extended this by nine months, resulting in a 15-month decision period for applications submitted between September 27, 2022, and January 1, 2026. Data indicates that for those undergoing the General Asylum Procedure, the average wait for a second, detailed interview can stretch to 90 weeks, or over 1.5 years, after the initial application interview. The period between the registration interview and the detailed interview currently averages 66 weeks.
Paradoxical Delays Amidst Declining Applications
The increase in processing times occurs even as the Netherlands has seen a reduction in new asylum applications. First-time asylum requests in 2025 dropped by 25% compared to 2024, and were nearly 40% below the peak recorded in 2023. The overall number of asylum applications, including family reunification requests, also saw a decline in 2024, marking the first such decrease in four years. Despite this downturn in new arrivals, the IND continues to face a growing backlog, with the number of decisions made not keeping pace with the volume of applications.
Contributing Factors and Financial Burden
Several factors contribute to the persistent delays. The IND notes that the number of refugees awaiting decisions remains higher than the agency's processing capacity, leading to a continuous rise in pending applications. An increase in applications from unaccompanied minor refugees and a surge in family reunification requests further strain resources. The IND has also highlighted that judicial periodic penalties, intended to incentivize faster processing, have become 'counterproductive,' consuming significant resources that could otherwise be directed towards case assessment. In 2024, the state paid €36.8 million in such penalties, with an additional €25 million paid in the first five months of 2025.
Government Response and Future Outlook
In response to the ongoing challenges, the Dutch government announced new emergency asylum measures on October 25, 2024, though these are still in development. The IND has advocated for the abolition of judicial periodic penalties, with Director-General Rhodia Maas stating that 'People are entitled to get quick decisions, but penalty procedures are preventing that from happening.' The extended decision period for asylum applications is set to remain at 15 months until at least January 1, 2026.
5 Comments
Raphael
Complete mismanagement by the IND and the government. They clearly can't handle it.
Leonardo
This is an absolute disgrace! How can delays increase when applications are falling?
Michelangelo
The government's emergency measures are a step, but they need to address the root causes of the backlog, not just manage the symptoms. Asylum seekers deserve clarity, and the IND needs effective long-term solutions.
Donatello
Asylum seekers are stuck in limbo for years. This is inhumane and unacceptable.
Raphael
The financial burden of judicial penalties is indeed counterproductive, but it also highlights the failure to meet legal obligations. The focus should be on improving processing capacity rather than just eliminating accountability.