Unprecedented rise in subsequent asylum applications due to European decisions
Germany is witnessing an unprecedented rise in asylum applications, especially from Afghan citizens, following recent European court rulings. Between January and November 2025, subsequent asylum applications increased by nearly 2000% compared to previous periods.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees linked this increase to the decisions of the European Court of Justice, which encouraged applicants whose requests had previously been rejected to submit new applications. By the end of November, 51,138 subsequent asylum applications had been registered, an increase of more than 141% compared to the previous year.
Afghan citizens made up the largest portion of these applications, totaling 37,110 requests. Among them, 21,759 Afghan women and girls submitted applications, while 15,351 requests came from Afghan men and boys, most of whom were children or husbands of the applicants. Approximately 30,266 applications were processed, with protection granted in about 86% of cases.
This increase comes after a ruling by the European Court of Justice in October 2024, which acknowledged that Afghan women are subjected to systematic violations of basic human dignity rights under Taliban policies. The court deemed that Afghan women are inherently at risk, without the need to assess each case individually.
This ruling has sparked a wide discussion about the impact of the judiciary on immigration and asylum policies, highlighting the tension between judicial decisions and political authorities. German policymakers now face the task of adjusting asylum procedures in light of unprecedented demand and increasing public scrutiny.