In April 2026, the EU+ received just under 54,000 applications for international protection, the lowest monthly level since July 2021 and over a fifth less than the 2025 average.
Following the ousting of the Assad regime in December 2024, far fewer Syrians have been applying for asylum. Syrians lodged just 1,700 applications in April 2026, the second lowest number on record.
Afghans lodged the most applications in April 2026, with around 6,300. Afghan applications have declined since the peak reached in September 2025, which was driven largely by repeated applications from Afghan women already present in the EU+.
Venezuelans lodged around 5,000 applications in April 2026, ranking second among all citizenships. These applicants can travel visa-free to the Schengen area. Around 94% of all Venezuelan applications were lodged in Spain.
In April 2026, Iranian nationals lodged around 540 applications, ranking 30th among all citizenships. This was down compared to March, and to-date does not indicate a sustained increase.
