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
Poland Flag Poland 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Amendments to the Act on Foreigners introduced changes to speed up return procedures. Foreigners are informed faster by email about the obligation to leave the territory. In addition, for the return, Polish authorities do not need to issue their own return decision when a return decision has been issued by another EU Member State. According to the new law, a return decision is issued to every foreigner listed in SIS, regardless of the residence status. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants SEM announced an adjustment to its asylum and deportation policy on Afghanistan. Starting in mid-April 2025, in certain exceptional cases, single Afghan men whose asylum applications were rejected could again be returned to Afghanistan under specific conditions. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Sweden Flag Sweden 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A new government ordinance, in force as of January 2026, increased the financial incentive for voluntary repatriation. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Sweden Flag Sweden 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A legislative amendment was made to the Aliens Act to abolish the possibility of 'track change', which allowed rejected applicants who worked during the asylum procedure to apply – under certain conditions – for a residence permit without having to leave the country. The amendments also introduced new rules for the statute of limitations and re-entry bans, which are now valid for 5 years from the date the person can show that they did actually leave Sweden. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Portugal Flag Portugal 2025 Institutional Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The National Unit for Foreigners and Borders was created within the Public Security Police, with consolidated responsibilities for immigration control, border management, and enforcement of removal and expulsion orders. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Portugal Flag Portugal 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A legislative reform was proposed to reshape return procedures by extending and restructuring detention and alternatives to detention. It aims to centralise return responsibilities and reinforce a faster and more coherent system. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Norway Flag Norway 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The government introduced the new 2025–2030 return strategy. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Norway Flag Norway 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants New regulations strengthened the best interests of the child in expulsion cases. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Italy Flag Italy 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Law No 75/2025 expanded the categories of people who can be transferred to detention facilities in Albania to include irregular migrants subject to an expulsion order. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Iceland Flag Iceland 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A draft law established the legal basis for administrative detention centres for rejected applicants waiting to be returned. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Greece Flag Greece 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants In September 2025, the plenary session of the Greek Parliament approved the bill "Reform of the framework and procedures for the return of third-country nationals - Other regulations of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum". Key amendments included faster and monitored voluntary departures, tougher entry bans and penalties, expanded detention, and new legal barriers for long-term undocumented migrants. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Finnish Immigration Service launched a pilot return centre in Vantaa. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Finland Flag Finland 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Amendments to the Aliens Act introduced an obligation for persons subject to a return decision to cooperate with the authorities and depart voluntarily within a prescribed period. The time limit for a voluntary return may be extended on special grounds, subject to a EUR 100 administrative fee. The reform clarified that entry bans may be imposed through a separate and independent decision for individuals residing either in Finland or abroad, for a fixed duration or until further notice. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Denmark Flag Denmark 2025 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Repatriation Act was amended to extend the grounds for mandatory expulsion when a foreigner is sentenced for a criminal act. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Croatia Flag Croatia 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Co-financed by AMIF, an agreement was signed to train border police officers in applying return procedures for third-country nationals, in line with EU and national laws. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Croatia Flag Croatia 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The AMIF-funded project “Translation and Free Legal Aid in the Return Procedure” was expanded to contract more translators. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Austria Flag Austria 2025 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Focus continued on returns, and the first removal since 2011 was carried out to Syria and to Afghanistan since 2021. EUAA Asylum Report 2026
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2024 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants From June 2024, the Federal Council is able to contribute to the operating costs of cantonal departure centres when there is a high volume of illegal entries. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants In January 2025, the government adopted a bill to ensure that more people with a removal order are returned to their country of origin. A removal order will apply for 5 years from the date a third-country national leaves the country or longer if a re-entry ban is in force, which may be issued if a third-country national does not leave the country by the indicated deadline. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A new legal position was published on voluntary repatriation allowing individuals without a passport or proof of identity to apply. The grant is only given if the person cannot afford the trip, and the applicant can request to retain their permanent residence permit upon a return. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A new legal position was published which provides that a removal order with a re-entry ban is time-barred 4 years after the decision becomes final, while a ban longer than 4 years is time-barred until the ban period ends, starting from the person's departure date. If no departure occurs, the order remains in force and the time limit does not begin. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovakia Flag Slovakia 2024 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A new project for the implementation of forced returns of illegally-staying third-country nationals was approved within the AMIF framework. It aims to identify and process travel documents, and provide services such as accommodation, food and interpretation. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Romania Flag Romania 2024 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The government approved an Emergency Ordinance which changed the time limit to appeal a return decision from 3 days to 10 days. It also established that the court would examine the appeal within 5 days from the date of its receipt and the decision is final. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Norway Flag Norway 2024 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A proposal for amendments to the Immigration Act was approved by the Council of State. It aims to facilitate the return of foreign nationals with illegal residence and possibly prevent their return. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Norway Flag Norway 2024 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Directorate for Immigration offered additional funding for initiatives that inform individuals without legal residence about assisted returns, specifically targeting those living outside asylum reception centres. EUAA Asylum Report 2025