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 FAQ Latest Asylum Trends

Frequently Asked Questions

When adjusted for population size, Cyprus recorded the highest level in March 2026, with 328 applications per million inhabitants. It was followed by Greece with 275 and Spain with 226. The EU+ average was 126 applications per million inhabitants, or around 1 application per 7,900 people. 

In March 2026, the EU+ recognition rate was 30% at first instance. This means that 30% of first instance decisions granted either refugee status or subsidiary protection. The EU+ recognition rate does not include national forms of protection, which are considered as negative in terms of EU-regulated protection. 

Yes. In March 2026, recognition rates varied widely by citizenship.  

  • They were high for Malians (88%), Haitians (82%), Afghans (72%), Sudanese (68%) and Ukrainians (60%).  
  • They were very low for Egyptians (2%) and for Venezuelans, Bangladeshis, Moroccans and Peruvians (each at 3%). 

At the end of March 2026, around 802,000 cases were pending at first instance in the EU+. Around 569,000, or 71%, had been pending for more than six months. First instance pending cases remained high by historical standards, although below the previous peak of around 1.02 million recorded in September 2016. The latest estimate for all instances (including in appeal and review) refers to February 2026, when approximately 1.2 million total cases were awaiting a decision. 

At present, applications from Iranian nationals remain relatively low and represent a small share of total EU+ asylum applications. In March 2026, Iranian nationals lodged around 800 applications, ranking 22nd among all citizenships. This was slightly higher than in February, but still does not indicate a significant increase.

However, the situation remains uncertain. Previous increases — such as those observed following government crackdowns in 2022–2023 — were gradual and limited in scale. In fact, Iranian applications in the past increased alongside visa policy changes in countries of transit. Given Iran’s large population of around 90 million, even a small proportion seeking protection could result in significant increases in applications over a short period of time. At present, however, Iranian applications remain a marginal component of the EU+ caseload.