Asylum applications, publication of 15 June 2021

The COVID-19 health crisis has a strong impact on the movement of foreigners and the activity of Asylum Seekers’ Single Banks (GUDA) in 2020, causing a decrease in the number of asylum applications and decisions taken in this regard.

There were 81,531 first applications (41.1 %) and 11,733 reviews (- 8.8 %), submitted within the GUDA, as well as 22,233 requests made outside the GUDA.

In addition, 96,424 asylum applications were registered at OFPRA, a decrease of — 27.4 % compared to 2019. The decline in decisions taken was slightly less (- 26.4 %) with 70,175 decisions, excluding accompanying minors. However, the number of agreement decisions recorded a sharper decline (by — 37.5 % compared to 2019), with OFPRA taking 13,927, compared to 22,295 in 2019.

The National Asylum Court (CNDA) delivered 42 025 decisions, i.e. — 36.8 % compared to 2019, of which 10,254 annulments (second instance agreement decisions), compared to 13,980 in 2019.

In total, in 2020, the number of decisions granting protection status (refugee and subsidiary protection, excluding accompanying minors) taken by OFPRA and CNDA stood at 24,181, a decrease of -33.3 % compared to 2019.