The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has significantly reduced the number of reviews of granted refugee status compared to previous years. Data reveals a substantial decrease in proceedings initiated and concluded.
Between January and August 2024, approximately 16,000 new review proceedings were launched, while nearly 34,000 were completed. This represents a considerable drop from 2021, when 117,000 new procedures were initiated. Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi nationals have historically been among those most frequently subject to these reviews.
During the review period, BAMF confirmed the validity of protection status in 31,992 cases, while in 1,823 instances, the protection status was revoked or withdrawn altogether.
BAMF refrains from providing detailed explanations for opening review procedures, citing the complexity and individuality of the circumstances surrounding each applicant’s life story, which makes standardized categorization difficult. Consequently, the agency does not maintain statistics regarding factors potentially influencing these reviews, such as return trips to their countries of origin, criminal records, or information received from security agencies.
According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, return trips to a person’s home country can present a factor potentially impacting their refugee status. Legal precedent dictates that protection may no longer be deemed necessary if individuals have returned to their place of origin. However, the decision to initiate a review process regarding such travels ultimately lies with BAMF on a case-by-case basis. Specific data regarding how often travel has resulted in the revocation of protection status is not compiled.
Since the fall of the Assad regime, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have returned to Syria, many originating from Turkey. Through voluntary return programs, approximately 1,900 Syrians have repatriated from Germany to date.
