German Parliament Approves Tighter Asylum Laws: What Changes Await?

The Dutch Parliament has recently passed two highly contentious bills aimed at significantly tightening the nation’s asylum laws. This move is expected to make it considerably more challenging for individuals to seek asylum in the Netherlands and will also affect the ability of migrants’ families to join them. Additionally, residing in the country without proper documents, as well as assisting undocumented individuals, is set to become a punishable offense.

Despite the passage of these bills through the Second Chamber of Parliament, their legality and practical implementation have been called into question by legal experts, government advisers, asylum authorities, and refugee organizations.

Political Turmoil and Legislative Changes

The push for these stringent laws was spearheaded by the far-right populist Geert Wilders and his Party for Freedom (PVV), which had recently participated in the government coalition. Wilders has long advocated for what he calls the “strictest asylum law of all time.” However, disagreements over the proposed asylum laws led to the coalition’s breakdown in June, with new elections scheduled for late October.

Despite the PVV being the largest party in the Second Chamber, it remains uncertain whether these laws will secure a majority in the Senate, akin to the Federal Council, where they are expected to be debated in the fall.

Projected Impacts on Asylum Seekers

The proposed changes include creating two types of asylum status: one for refugees from war or disaster zones and another for individuals persecuted for reasons such as ethnic origin. The duration of residence permits is to be reduced from five to three years, and family reunifications will be severely restricted.

Approximately 12% of migrants entering the Netherlands annually are asylum seekers. In 2024, the country received 32,000 asylum seekers and around 10,000 family members. However, the first three months of 2025 saw a dramatic 50% drop in these numbers, a trend mirrored in several other European nations.