At the beginning of 2026 Germany is seeing another sharp decline in first‑time asylum applications. According to the Interior Ministry, as reported by “Bild”, only 7,649 people submitted a new asylum claim in January 2026. In the same month a year earlier, 14,920 applications were filed-a 48.7 % drop over twelve months.
A first‑time application is the formal request for protection filed by someone who has never before gone through an asylum process in the country. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) welcomed the figures, saying they confirm his policy direction. He told “Bild”: “The migration turnaround continues even in January”.
