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
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection COA and COC Netherlands renewed their partnership to further improve the safety, inclusion and well-being of LGBTIQ residents. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Residents in COA facilities who work or have their own financial resources must now pay a small contribution towards their healthcare costs. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Institutional Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Identification and Screening Service for Asylum Seekers (DISA) became operational on 1 January 2025. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Policy Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The application of the national list of safe countries of origin was temporarily suspended on 23 September 2025 until the entry into application of the Pact, meaning that the accelerated procedure could no longer be applied, although applications from these countries continued to be processed with priority. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The minister proposed a ban on priority municipal housing for beneficiaries of international protection. The Parliament has not yet approved the draft law on the priority ban. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Act introducing Two Status Systems was adopted by the House of Representatives. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Netherlands Flag Netherlands 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Asylum Emergency Measures Act was adopted by the House of Representatives. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance An amendment to the Immigration Appeals Board (IAB) Regulations specified the timeframes and procedures to appeal an age assessment. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Policy Access to information Access to information The IPA launched a new website, which includes more information on the agency and the asylum procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Amendments were introduced to the Immigration Appeals Board (IAB) Regulations on the number of divisions of the appeals board which may be adjusted to the number of cases to be adjudicated and the distribution of cases across divisions. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure Prevention of Disease Ordinance, Article 13 was deleted, which was previously used by the public health authorities and the Immigration Police to order the detention of migrants who arrived on the territory in an irregular manner, including asylum seekers, pending a medical clearance. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Institutional Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The International Protection Agency (IPA) recruited additional staff and created two new units: a Flow Operations Unit to optimise case processing and a Support and Corporate Unit to decentralise finance-related processes. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure An amendment defined the categories of people for whom the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) must conduct an age assessment as soon as possible. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Malta Flag Malta 2025 Policy Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The Ministry of Home Affairs, Security and Employment issued a call for warranted lawyers to provide legal aid services at the appeals stage before the International Protection Appeals Tribunal and the Immigration Appeals Board. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2025 Institutional Procedures at second and higher instances The Council of Government approved a draft bill to establish a dedicated asylum and immigration court and reinforce the staffing of administrative courts. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The National Reception Office became responsible for the provision of information on reception conditions to all applicants. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2025 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Council of Government approved a draft bill to incorporate the provisions of the instruments of the Pact in law. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Luxembourg Flag Luxembourg 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Two AMIF-funded projects supported applicants and people with temporary protection for their employment integration. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Reception and Integration Agency launched two new national programmes on socio-cultural orientation and psychological resilience. The programmes were part of a broader strategy to enhance reception quality and integration outcomes. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Reception and Integration Agency is implementing the AMIF-funded project “Reception Infrastructure Improvement and Expansion”. The project includes infrastructure upgrades at reception centres, logistical enhancements and acquiring essential material to ensure adequate living conditions, efficient reception processes and preparedness for future arrivals. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2025 Policy Legal representation and assistance Legal assistance and representation Since 1 January 2025, foreigners may also receive state-guaranteed secondary legal aid, upon request, for proceedings before the Supreme Administrative Court, in accordance with the applicable legal framework. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2025 Institutional Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Reception and Integration Agency started its operations in January 2025. This change was made to transform from a centre-based reception model to a consolidated, national-level institutional framework responsible for reception and also for the coordination of integration measures and quality standards. The reform is considered to be an important structural development in the country’s migration governance, aiming to strengthen operational capacity, centralise key functions and enhance strategic planning within the asylum and reception system. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Lithuania Flag Lithuania 2025 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure A state of emergency was maintained along the border with Belarus, and several temporary restrictions were introduced at various border checkpoints due to the risk of instrumentalisation of migrants. The Migration Department noted that asylum applications continued to be registered within the territory and safeguards for vulnerable persons remained in place. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Latvia Flag Latvia 2025 Policy Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The enhanced border protection regime was extended in five administrative regions. Consequently, people seeking international protection could only apply at official border-crossing points. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Italy Flag Italy 2025 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A memorandum of understanding was signed to promote local cooperation between prefectures and church entities on reception and integration measures. EUAA Asylum Report 2026