The Netherlands does not decide on asylum applications of Syrians for now

On most asylum applications from people from Syria, the

This decision may be extended for up to six more months. Meanwhile, the ministry of Foreign Affairs is investigating the security situation in Syria. In doing so, the Netherlands is following the example of other European countries, such as Germany and Belgium.

Are you coming from Syria and waiting less than 21 months for a decision? Then the IND will pause your application. Your asylum application will be reviewed (again) later. You may stay in the Netherlands as long as your procedure is on pause.

The Netherlands is not sending people back from Syria for now anyway because of the unclear security situation. In addition, the Netherlands currently has no diplomatic relations with Syria, which is necessary to send people back.

If the IND previously rejected your application for asylum and you were no longer entitled to a place in a reception centre, you can now report to Ter Apel again for reception. You are entitled to a place in a reception centre again, even if you do not have a current asylum application. This is because the Netherlands is not allowed to send people back from Syria for the next 6 months.

You can also make a new asylum application because of the changed situation in Syria. For your procedure, it is good to do this as soon as possible. It will also allow you to use rights such as work sooner.

In these cases, among others, the IND may still make a decision

• If you have been waiting a long time for a decision: If you applied for asylum more than 21 months ago, the IND will still make a decision. This also applies if your waiting time in the next 6 months is 21 months.

• If you apply for asylum because of personal reasons: These personal reasons, according to the IND, must be separate from the situation in Syria and serious enough for a positive decision. Due to the situation in Syria, the IND expects that few decisions will be made based on this exception in the next 6 months.

• If another European country is responsible for your asylum application: On the basis of the

  Dublin regulation
  , the Netherlands may send you to another European country that is responsible for your application. Even if you already have a residence permit in another European country and can return there, the Netherlands may make a decision on this.

Do you have questions about what this decision means for you? Contact your contact at

Below we answer possible questions you may have about this decision:

Still have questions? RefugeeHelp will keep you up to date with the latest information on this topic as much as possible. So check this page regularly for updates.