Subsequent asylum applications in Germany
Subsequent asylum applications in Germany stood at 55,307 persons in 2025, according to Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) and Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). It is one of the indicators in the International migration table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1995 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the International migration table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total asylum applications | 168,543 | 250,945 | 351,915 | 244,132 | 190,816 | 122,170 | 165,938 | 185,853 | 222,683 | 745,545 | |
| Subsequent applications and further information | 55,307 | 21,194 | 22,795 | 26,358 | 42,583 | 19,589 | 23,429 | 23,922 | 24,366 | 23,175 | |
| Initial applications | 113,236 | 229,751 | 329,120 | 217,774 | 148,233 | 102,581 | 142,509 | 161,931 | 198,317 | 722,370 |
Understanding subsequent asylum applications in Germany
Repeat requests for international protection submitted by individuals whose prior asylum proceedings were completed, rejected, or withdrawn are classified under this subsequent applications metric. To be formally accepted for procedural review, these claims typically require the applicant to substantiate new legal or factual evidence that has emerged since their initial case was decided. The series excludes all first-time asylum petitions, routine residence permit renewals, and judicial appeals against ongoing asylum decisions. Within the asylum structure, this row isolates follow-up petitions from initial filings, illuminating procedural re-examinations among individuals already present within the administrative system.
Unlike initial claims that reflect new international movements, subsequent applications capture procedural reviews for individuals already residing within the country. Changes in legal precedents, shifting political conditions in countries of origin, or revisions to national protection criteria often motivate former applicants to file renewed claims. Year-on-year comparisons illustrate how policy shifts and international developments prompt secondary reviews over time. Users should not aggregate this series with incoming migration flows, as doing so double-counts individuals who were already recorded in arrival statistics during their earlier proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
- Why would an individual submit a subsequent asylum application?
- An individual files a subsequent claim when new evidence, altered circumstances in their home country, or legal developments arise after their earlier application was finalized.
- Do subsequent applications represent new migrants arriving at the border?
- No, applicants submitting subsequent claims are almost always persons already staying in Germany whose earlier asylum proceedings have concluded.
- How does this series interact with initial asylum applications?
- Initial applications track first-time protection claims, while this series captures follow-up claims, with both summing to total annual asylum applications.