During the period from January through November, more than 325,000 people who were already in Germany filed asylum applications. This figure was reported by the Federal Ministry for Immigration and Refugees, widely known as BAMF. The data reflects a significant surge in asylum activity, underscoring ongoing policy debates and humanitarian considerations across the country.
Specifically, for the first eleven months of 2023, a total of 325,801 individuals submitted requests for asylum in Germany. The report notes that this level marks an increase of 60.3 percent compared with the same timeframe in the previous year. The rise highlights how rapid shifts in migration patterns, security concerns, and international events influence the volume of asylum cases handled by German authorities.
To date, 242,185 asylum applications have reached the stage of official decisions. The distribution of decisions shows a concentration of cases across several nationalities. A substantial portion of the decisions income originates from citizens from Syria, who account for about 97,200 allocations. Turkey follows with roughly 56,700 decisions, while Afghanistan accounts for around 50,300. Iraqi nationals comprise about 11,500 decisions, and individuals from Iran total approximately 9,700. The data also indicate notable activity among applicants from Georgia, with about 8,900 decisions, and a smaller but noteworthy share from citizens of the Russian Federation, estimated at around 8,400. These figures illustrate how the asylum system often processes flows from diverse regions, reflecting broader regional dynamics and the impact of conflicts and humanitarian crises on migration patterns into Europe.
In November, following lengthy negotiations between the German federal government and the chancellors of the federal states, an agreement was reached regarding a one-time lump-sum payment. The arrangement provides for a total of 7,500 euros per eligible immigrant to be disbursed by a central authority. This policy decision has been described as a measure intended to address immediate integration needs and to support newcomers as they navigate housing, employment, and legal processes in the initial months after arrival.
Reinhard Sager, a former president of the German Council of Regions, commented on the development, noting that the committee overseeing migration policy has signaled a consensus to adjust aid to refugees arriving from Ukrainian territory. The aim behind this recalibration is to balance humanitarian obligations with resource considerations, while continuing to uphold international protections for those seeking asylum. Meanwhile, Switzerland announced it would provide financial support to Ukrainian refugees who choose to return home, a decision that underscores the differing national approaches to crisis-driven migration and the varying responsibilities assumed by neighboring states in the region.