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
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection In March 2025, an amendment to the Reception Act on accommodation of applicants entered into force. The aim is to reduce private apartment housing in favour of accommodation provided by the Swedish Migration Agency (SMA). According to the amended law, applicants will need to move into and live in the allocated accommodation in order to be entitled to receive daily and special allowances. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance In December 2024, the Migration Agency announced the suspension of the examination of applications made by Syrian nationals. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The National Board of Forensic Medicine introduced a new and more detailed model for medical age assessments, using an eight-stage classification of wisdom teeth instead of the simpler two-stage system. This new model will be applied for age assessments in migration and asylum procedures. 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
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Detention Detention during the asylum procedure A legal position was published on the detention of applicants under police custody. The position outlined the duration of the arrest, the necessary measures to be taken and how the detainee’s status should be considered in detention and placement decisions. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection A new legal position was published on financial support during the application process, namely the maintenance obligation. Financial support from the state is limited when a spouse can support the partner. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Migration Agency launched a tender for a new framework agreement for at least 4,500 accommodation places in preparation for the reform of the reception system. The agreement aims to provide collective housing managed by private service providers. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Sweden updated its legal position on the assessment of Yemeni passports. It established that passports issued by offices in areas controlled by the Houthi militia are no longer considered valid travel or identity documents. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Sweden updated its legal position on the assessment of cases by Afghan women. It established that case officers are only required to consider factors related to the applicant's sex and nationality, but not any other personal circumstances. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Agency introduced a simplified procedure for notifying asylum decisions, aiming to increase the number of decisions that gain legal force. The applicant is considered to be notified 2 weeks after the decision is mailed and can then appeal the decision within the following 3 weeks. If they do not appeal in that time, the decision becomes legally enforceable. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Agency introduced new standard operating procedures and templates to support case officers with the identification of special needs and exclusion grounds and to aid them in drafting decisions. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Sweden Flag Sweden 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Agency requested an increase to its budget for the coming years to maintain capacity in examining applications, managing the impacts of the war in Ukraine and investing in digitisation and IT security. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Institutional Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Asylum Office was transformed into the Directorate General of International Protection, with a revised organisational structure and additional administrative staff and case officers. The aim is to streamline processes and reduce processing times at first and second instances. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection The Foreigners’ Regulation was reformed in 2024. Applicants for international protection who have received a negative decision will be able to request regularisation of their situation by applying for arraigo if they have been in an irregular situation for at least 6 months before the application is submitted. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Additional funds were allocated to the reception system due to a higher number of applicants and people with temporary protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The Family Welcome programme, which consists of families who host beneficiaries of temporary protection, was extended to refugees. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Policy Access to information Access to information With the support of the EUAA, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration launched a telephone line to provide information on international protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration launched a project, in collaboration with multinational companies, to support beneficiaries of international protection to find a job and become autonomous. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Spain Flag Spain 2024 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The Ministry of the Interior approved the National Refugee Resettlement Programme for 2024, pledging to resettle 1,200 people. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Directorate started to upgrade its main database to increase efficiency and enhance the digitalisation of the asylum procedure. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The government implemented a new project on the prevention of human trafficking and sexual violence. The project includes information workshops and a method of identification of vulnerable people. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2024 Policy Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups The Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities published a call for applicants to attend training to become statutory representatives of unaccompanied minors. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2024 Policy Resettlement Resettlement and humanitarian admissions The government completed its resettlement pledge by accepting 50 refugees from Türkiye, of whom 23 were from Syria and 27 from Afghanistan. EUAA Asylum Report 2025
Slovenia Flag Slovenia 2024 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The Migration Directorate prioritised cases by vulnerable applicants, unaccompanied minors, and applications from detention. EUAA Asylum Report 2025