National Asylum Developments Database

 

The National Asylum Developments Database presents legislative, institutional and policy developments related to asylum since 2018.

Searches can be narrowed down by:

  • Country
  • Year
  • Type of development: legislative, institutional or policy 
  • Thematic area: access to procedure, access to information, legal assistance and representation, interpretation services, special procedures, procedures at first instance, reception of applicants for international protection, detention, procedures at second instance, country of origin information, statelessness in the asylum context, content of protection, return of former applicants, resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes.

Details on each development and further analysis can be consulted in the Asylum Report series.
 

Types of policies and practices reported in the National Asylum Developments Database

The National Asylum Developments Database can be searched by institutional, legislative and policy changes. There are three types of policy developments:

Policies and practices related to the integrity of national asylum systems aim to swiftly identify unfounded asylum applications and ensure that financial, human and administrative resources are not dissipated on such claims. These measures involve efforts to rapidly establish an applicant’s identity, including age, country of origin, travel route and security concerns if any. These facts help to better assess the credibility of the applicant’s statements and determine whether beneficiaries of international protection are still in need of protection. The prevention of unintentional misuse of the asylum procedure and its integrity are also supported by the provision of information to asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection on their respective rights and obligations and related procedural arrangements.

Policies and practices that improve the efficiency of national asylum systems include digitalisation and the use of new technologies in the framework of asylum, prioritising or fast-tracking applications, the re-organisation of the procedure itself or implementing changes in the number of staff employed.

Policy and practice aiming to enhance the quality of national asylum systems contribute to increasing fairness, integrity and efficiency. Quality assurance systems, guidance materials and capacity-building measures typically pay off on the initial investment and efforts. The initiatives include staff training, revising existing guidance materials and monitoring the quality of the decisions delivered.

The database presents validated factual information and does not imply any endorsement from the European Commission or EUAA.

Flag Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Finnish Immigration Service announced an increase of the income threshold for residential permits relating to family reunification. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Finnish Immigration Service announced the suspension of processing of applications from Syrian nationals. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Finnish Immigration Service decreased accommodation places by discontinuing contracts for additional reception centres and reducing the number of places in reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Aliens Act was amended to implement stricter rules on the end of the right to work for rejected applicants. In accelerated procedures or for inadmissible applications, the right to work will end on the day that the decision is served. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The government submitted a proposal to amend the Aliens Act aiming to expand the effective use of entry bans and to make returns more efficient. The amendments will enter into force on 6 May 2025. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The government submitted a proposal to amend the Aliens Act to introduce stricter conditions for family reunification, such as a minimum age of 21 for both spouses when they are third-country nationals, a requirement of sufficient financial resources for parents reuniting with their unaccompanied child and a minimum period of residence for sponsors who have been granted international protection. The period of residence does not apply if the family was formed before the sponsor arrived in Finland, before being accepted as a quota refugee or before having received refugee status as a family member. The amendments have not yet come into force. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The government approved a resettlement quota of 500 people for 2025. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Finland Flag Finland 2024 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The President approved the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration. It provides the conditions under which the government can decide in a plenary session to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in a specific border area and to prevent third-country nationals from entering the country in an irregular manner. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Estonia Flag Estonia 2024 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Estonian Refugee Council, in partnership with the Labour Inspectorate, launched a programme to assist job-seeking refugees by providing training in job search strategies and access to the labour market. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Estonia Flag Estonia 2024 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Estonian Police and Border Guard closed the Narva border crossing point to all vehicles, allowing crossings only by pedestrians. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Estonia Flag Estonia 2024 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The number of classes taught in Ukrainian in schools were reduced, reflecting the increased integration of Ukrainian students into Estonian society. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The division responsible for reception and accommodation was moved under the Department of Asylum within the Danish Immigration Office. The objective was to streamline processes, foster greater coordination and enhance communication between staff working on asylum and reception. The change resulted in a decrease of reception and accommodation costs. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Following the European Court of Human Rights ruling C-666/21, the Immigration Service now grants victims of human trafficking a 30-day deliberation period before their transfer under the Dublin III Regulation. During this time, victims receive access to psychological, legal, socio-educational support and healthcare services. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Danish Immigration Service updated the guidelines for operator contracts in reception. They include the core responsibilities and services of staff in accommodation centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The government presented a new strategy for external border management. It focuses on implementing new IT systems, reducing the number of crossing points and implementing the screening regulation. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Legislative Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Parliament amended the Danish Aliens Act to better protect minors. It includes assigning a representative to a minor (both unaccompanied and accompanied) who is in a forced (religious or informal) marriage. The amendments also facilitate the allocation of a suitable reception place in specialised facilities for children requiring special support. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The government announced a support package to combat human smuggling and to prevent irregular migration. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Danish Immigration Service published a guidance document on the specific needs of LGBTIQ applicants in reception. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Danish Immigration Service approved new rules for the family reunification of spouses. They include new conditions on Danish language knowledge and a provision by which a charge or indictment of certain crimes will hinder the issuance of a permanent residence permit. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Refugee Appeals Board decided to postpone the departure deadline for Lebanese citizens for the time being when the board had upheld decisions on the refusal of residence permits. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Danish Immigration Service signed an agreement with the Directorate of the Prison and Probation Service on the accommodation and maintenance of detained asylum seekers. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Denmark Flag Denmark 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Refugee Appeals Board and the Danish Immigration Service decided to suspend the processing of cases from Syrian nationals. In addition, the departure date for returns and the decisions on extensions of residence permits were suspended. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Czech Flag Czechia 2024 Policy Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation UNHCR and civil society organisations, such as the Organisation for Aid to Refugees (OPU), launched new or continued projects to offer free legal aid and social counselling, with special attention on vulnerable applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Czech Flag Czechia 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups UNICEF financed child-friendly spaces in the Centres for Support of Integration of Foreigners. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Czech Flag Czechia 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A standard template was introduced for negative decisions with the aim of increasing the clarity of the justification. EUAA Asylum Report 2025