Asylum applications fall in Europe, rise 13% among Bangladeshis

Asylum or international protection applications have declined across Europe, but the number of applications filed by Bangladeshi nationals has increased.

In the first six months of this year, around 332,000 asylum applications were lodged in the European Union and associated countries, down 17% from the same period last year.

However, applications by Bangladeshi nationals rose by 13% during the same period.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), in its 2026 Mid-Year Review of the latest asylum trends published on Thursday, said the number of asylum applications in the EU+ region during the first half of this year was the lowest recorded for the first six months of any year since 2021.

According to the EUAA, around 332,000 people applied for international protection between January and June 2026. This was 17% lower than the number recorded during the same period in 2025. The downward trend in asylum applications across the EU+ region, which began towards the end of 2024, has continued this year.

However, Bangladesh has followed a different trend. Around 20,000 Bangladeshi nationals applied for asylum in the EU+ region during the first half of 2026, representing a 13% increase compared with the same period last year. Bangladesh therefore remains one of the leading nationalities seeking asylum in Europe.

France receives highest number of applications

France received the highest number of asylum applications among EU+ countries during the first six months of 2026, with around 69,000 applications, accounting for roughly one-fifth of the total.

Italy followed with around 66,000 applications, while Spain and Germany each received approximately 55,000. Together, the four countries accounted for nearly three-quarters of all asylum applications lodged in the EU+ region.

The picture is different when population size is taken into account. According to the EUAA, Greece received around 23,000 asylum applications. In terms of population, this was the highest rate in the EU+ region, with roughly one application for every 400 residents.

Asylum procedures becoming stricter

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Although the overall number of asylum applications has fallen, the procedure is becoming stricter for applicants from certain countries, including Bangladesh.

The EUAA said around 56% of all applications lodged in the EU+ region during the first half of 2026 came from nationalities that may be subject to border procedures or accelerated asylum procedures under the new rules.

Important provisions of the EU’s new asylum framework came into force on 12 June 2026. These include provisions allowing asylum claims to be examined at the border in certain circumstances and enabling applications to be processed more quickly. The first-half figures largely reflect the situation before the new rules became fully operational.

Reasons behind the decline

According to the EUAA’s analysis, several factors have contributed to the overall decline in asylum applications in Europe.

Political changes in Syria have altered the composition of asylum applicants from different nationalities. At the same time, stronger cooperation between the European Union and countries of origin and transit has also contributed to the decline in irregular migration and asylum applications.

Despite renewed conflicts in parts of the Middle East, the EUAA said these developments have not so far resulted in an increase in asylum applications across the EU+ region.

The continued rise in applications from Bangladeshis, despite the overall decline in Europe, has drawn particular attention. Around 20,000 Bangladeshi nationals applied for asylum in just six months, marking a 13% year-on-year increase and highlighting the continuing trend of Bangladeshis seeking protection in Europe.

The European Union Agency for Asylum also said that fewer than one-third of applications decided during the first six months of this year were granted protection.

Under the new rules that came into force in June, applications from nationals of countries with recognition rates below 20%, as well as those designated by the EU as safe countries, can be examined through accelerated procedures. Applications that are rejected can also lead to faster return procedures.