Netherlands Asylum Applications 2026: IND Starts New System to Process 54,000+ Pending Cases

Published: 7 October 2026
Category: Europe Immigration / Netherlands Immigration

The Netherlands has started a new approach to deal with a major backlog of asylum applications.

From 1 October 2026, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) began processing older asylum applications differently, with the aim of reaching initial decisions more efficiently and reducing long waiting times.

The backlog affects more than 54,000 people who submitted asylum applications before 12 June 2026, when the European Pact on Migration and Asylum came into effect. IND

Why is the Netherlands changing the asylum process?

Over recent years, the number of asylum applications has been higher than the IND’s processing capacity.

Although the IND has increased its processing speed, thousands of applications were still waiting for an initial decision.

The Dutch government therefore asked the IND to create an action plan to deal with the outstanding cases while also meeting the shorter decision deadlines introduced under the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. IND

The objective is to give as many people as possible with older applications an initial decision within the next three years. IND

📅 What changed from 1 October 2026?

The IND is now dividing pending applications into different groups.

Similar applications can be prepared and processed together, allowing individual teams to specialise in particular groups of cases.

The grouping can take factors such as nationality and relevant country policies into account, as well as the likelihood that an application can be assessed through a simplified process. IND

This does not mean every applicant will receive a decision immediately.

The IND has specifically warned that pending applications are currently at different stages. Some cases are already close to a decision, while others still require additional steps. IND

⏳ What happens to people who have already been waiting?

The new approach is particularly important for people who submitted their applications before 12 June 2026.

According to the IND, the first group began being invited for processing under the new approach from 1 October.

Applicants who have already had an interview may be prioritised because the IND already has important information about their case.

In some cases, applicants may be asked to attend another appointment so that the IND can collect the information needed to make a final decision. RefugeeHelp

People who have already completed two interviews may not need another appointment if the IND considers that it has enough information to decide their case.

 What does the EU Migration Pact have to do with it?

The European Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into force on 12 June 2026.

The new system introduced shorter and more flexible asylum procedures in the Netherlands.

For certain cases with little chance of receiving international protection, an accelerated procedure can apply, with a decision period of three months, compared with six months for the standard procedure. IND

Because the IND has to meet the new deadlines for newer applications, it initially prioritised applications submitted after 12 June.

That created a difficult situation for people who had already been waiting.

The new October approach is intended to tackle those older cases more systematically. IND

📊 How large is the backlog?

When the Dutch government announced the action plan, there were approximately 54,000 pending asylum applications submitted before the Migration Pact entered into force.

The IND is publishing monthly figures to show how many of these applications remain pending and how processing is progressing. IND

The number has already changed as cases continue to be processed, so the 54,000+ figure should be understood as the size of the backlog when the new approach was announced, rather than the number still waiting today.

⚠️ Does the new system guarantee a faster decision?

No.

The purpose of the new system is to make processing more efficient, but individual waiting times can still differ.

The IND says some applicants may still have to wait longer depending on where their case is in the procedure and what information is required.

The agency expects the new approach to produce faster decision-making overall, but it is not promising an immediate decision for every applicant. IND

🧾 What should applicants do?

If you have a pending asylum application in the Netherlands:

• Check communications from the IND carefully.
• Attend any appointment or interview you are invited to.
• Keep your contact information updated.
• Stay in contact with your lawyer or authorised representative.
• Keep copies of important documents and correspondence.
• Do not assume that another applicant’s timeline will be the same as yours.

The IND’s processing system is being changed, but individual cases continue to be assessed on their own circumstances. IND

 What does this mean for people planning to seek asylum in the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is not introducing a general rule that automatically approves asylum applications faster.

Instead, the country is changing the way its immigration authority manages applications and attempts to reduce its backlog.

For people who are already waiting, the October 2026 change could be particularly important because the IND is now actively working through older cases using a more structured system.

For new applicants, the revised asylum procedure introduced under the European Migration Pact means different deadlines and procedures may apply depending on their circumstances.

🔎 TravellerTrek takeaway

The Netherlands has begun a significant effort to tackle its asylum backlog.

The key point is simple:

More than 54,000 older applications were affected by the backlog, and from 1 October 2026 the IND began processing these cases through a new grouped approach designed to improve efficiency.

However, applicants should not assume that everyone will receive a decision at the same time or immediately.

The IND will continue publishing figures as the new system progresses.

Official sources

Netherlands IND — Processing pending asylum applications more quickly

IND — Monthly figures on pending asylum applications

IND — Questions and answers about the Migration Pact