Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
Asylum appeal cases in Germany are taking longer again
People whose asylum claims are rejected in Germany can challenge the decision in court, and some people granted limited protection also appeal.
These court cases took an average of 15.3 months in the first half of 2026, up from 14.3 months in 2025, though the figures for those years are not fully comparable.
The average had fallen from 26.5 months in 2021 to 16.7 months in 2024 before rising again.
Waiting times varied widely: cases took an average of 20.4 months in Saxony and 20 months in Lower Saxony, compared with 9.2 months in Rhineland-Palatinate and 10.7 months in Bavaria.
The article says the rise in the number of appeals and cases involving difficult decisions about conditions in applicants’ home countries can add to delays.
As of August 15, 196,315 asylum appeals were pending across Germany, up from 191,566 on January 15.
Some states have tried to speed up cases by adding staff, creating specialist court panels and using central databases, but the sources give no timetable for clearing the backlog.
German asylum appeal cases took an average of 15.3 months in the first half of 2026, up from 14.3 months in the previous year.
The average duration had fallen for four years after reaching 26.5 months in 2021.
Saxony had the longest average wait, at 20.4 months, while Rhineland-Palatinate had the shortest, at 9.2 months.
The number of pending asylum appeals nationwide was 196,315 on August 15.
The article cites more appeals and cases involving complex conditions in countries of origin as factors that can lengthen proceedings.
- Who
- People appealing decisions by Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, and the administrative courts hearing their cases.
- What
- Asylum appeal cases are taking longer again, with an average duration of 15.3 months in the first half of 2026.
- When
- The reported average covers the first half of 2026.
- Where
- Germany; Saxony had the longest reported average and Rhineland-Palatinate the shortest.
- Why
- The article cites an increase in appeals and cases involving difficult assessments of conditions in countries of origin.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
That affected countries of origin such as Iran, Russia, Afghanistan and Turkey.
Asylum appeal cases took an average of 26.5 months.
Cases in Rhineland-Palatinate were completed in an average of five months.
Asylum appeal cases took an average of 16.7 months nationwide.
Cases took an average of 15.3 months nationwide, compared with 14.3 months in the previous year.
196,315 asylum appeals were pending nationwide.
- Nationwide average, first half of 2026
- 15.3 months
- Saxony average, first half of 2026
- 20.4 months
- Rhineland-Palatinate average, first half of 2026
- 9.2 months
- Pending appeals, August 15
- 196,315
- Previous nationwide average
- 14.3 months for 2025, with December data unavailable
Sources
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