More asylum requests in Q3 2022

In 2020 and 2021, the Netherlands received fewer first asylum applications and fewer following family members. This was mainly due to the travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. After the travel restrictions were lifted, the number of asylum applications and following relatives increased again in the latter half of 2021.

In Q3 of this year, a total of 10.6 thousand asylum seekers submitted a first asylum application. This is 3,555 more than in the previous quarter and 4,120 more than in Q1. The difference with the third quarter of 2021 is less significant (1,790 more asylum applications).

Over 4 in 10 are Syrians

In Q3, a total of 4,605 Syrians filed their first application. This number doubled compared to Q2 2022, when 2,260 first requests were submitted. Just as in previous quarters, Syrians formed the largest group of applicants.

The number of requests by Afghan asylum seekers rose by 58 percent year on year, to 995. After Syrians and Afghans, Turks (935) were the third largest group.

Further rise in family reunification

There were 3,605 family member arrivals in Q3 2022, i.e. 465 more than in the previous quarter (+15 percent). Relative to Q1 2022, the number increased by 41 percent. Syrians remained the largest group among reunification arrivals (68 percent).

The number of Turkish reunification arrivals rose by 220 (+86 percent) to 475 in Q3, while the numbers from Eritrea and Iran remained virtually unchanged.

Ukraine and Russia

This year, more Ukrainians came to the Netherlands than in previous years because of the war in Ukraine. Although they do not need to apply for asylum in order to reside or work here, some still filed an application. Altogether in Q2 2022, 15 Ukrainians submitted an asylum request; this was 5 in Q3. Other CBS figures show that more than 95 thousand Ukrainians were registered with a Dutch municipality between end of February and early October 2022.

In Q3 2022, 80 Russian nationals submitted a first asylum application. This is fewer than in Q1 and Q2, when Russians submitted 120 and 170 first applications, respectively.