(GERMANY) German authorities have begun to withdraw protection status from more than 550 Syrians after re-checking asylum files, a move that signals a tougher line after the fall of the Assad regime and follows court rulings that said Germany can no longer freeze Syrian cases as a group. The file reviews and new decisions are being driven by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, known by its German initials BAMF, and they are already changing the outlook for Syrians who once expected Germany to keep renewing their protection almost automatically.
Legal shifts and court rulings
The shift has played out both in administrative decisions and in the courts.
- In May 2025, the 5th Chamber of the Administrative Court in Karlsruhe ruled that suspending all Syrian asylum procedures was no longer justified. That decision cleared the way for the backlog of cases to move again, but under narrower standards.
- The Administrative Court in Cologne upheld a BAMF denial and made a key point: Syrians no longer qualify for protection simply because they are Syrian and the country is unstable. Applicants must show a personal risk of persecution, not only point to general violence or poverty.
BAMF’s new approach and numbers
BAMF’s changed stance is visible in the rejection statistics and in the profile of those affected.
- In October 2025 alone, the agency rejected 1,906 Syrian first-time asylum applications — more than ten times the total for January through September that year.
- Rejections have focused on young, employable men who arrived unaccompanied and who come from areas that German authorities now judge safe enough for return.
Key figures
| Item | Number / Detail |
|---|---|
| Protection withdrawals after re-checks | more than 550 Syrians |
| October 2025 rejections (first-time) | 1,906 |
| Departure orders issued | 10,700 Syrians |
| Departure orders who hold temporary permits | 9,800 |
| Syrians who left voluntarily (Jan–Sep 2025) | 21,800 (+35% vs 2024) |
| Family reunification suspended (subsidiary protection) | ~350,000 |
| Fall in Syrian asylum applications (Jan–Sep 2025 vs prior year) | -67.1% |
| EU+ recognition rate early 2025 | 14% (vs ~90% in earlier years) |
Political messaging
Political leaders have framed the change as a signal to restart returns.
“The civil war in Syria is over. There are now no longer any grounds for asylum in Germany, and we can therefore also begin with repatriations,”
— Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU)
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has said Germany is talking with Syria’s transitional government about repatriation agreements before the end of the year, with a plan to remove convicted criminals first and then people who do not have a right to stay.
Enforcement in practice
Officials’ statements are matched by case outcomes that were previously rare for Syrians.
- The source material describes one denial that included a deportation order, giving the person 30 days to leave and adding a 30-month Schengen re-entry ban.
- While such hard orders remain unusual for Syrians, they show that protection refusals can carry firm deadlines and long re-entry bars across much of Europe.
Across Germany the enforcement picture is mixed:
- Around 10,700 Syrians have received departure orders.
- 9,800 of those hold temporary permits, which can pause removal in practice.
- 21,800 Syrians left voluntarily from January through September 2025, up 35% from 2024.
For some families, the choice to leave is tied to a belief that the state no longer offers a stable future, even if legal and practical hurdles still limit many forced deportations.
Evidence standards and criticism
BAMF has cited external data sources to support its view that some areas of Syria no longer present indiscriminate danger.
- The source material says BAMF referenced UN OCHA and Liveuamap in arguing that certain areas are safe enough for returns.
- In decisions like the Cologne ruling, BAMF rejected claims based on general insecurity, weak public services, or lack of schools, insisting applicants show individualized evidence of being targeted.
Critics argue this approach has weaknesses:
- Human-rights groups and watchdogs warn that the end of Assad does not mean safety for everyone.
- Syria Accountability cautioned against premature returns, saying BAMF assessments can be superficial and may fail to reflect rapid on-the-ground volatility.
- Asylum law often hinges on local details — a militia in a particular town, a family tie, or an old accusation — which are hard to prove after chaotic flight.
Impacts on workers, integration, and family life
The change in policy affects Syrians differently depending on their legal situation.
- The source material notes integrated Syrians, including workers, face a lower deportation risk.
- Employers are advised to secure skilled-worker permits under § 19c for staff who could become vulnerable if protection is withdrawn. This reflects the legal reality that asylum-based status differs from work-based residence; switching to the latter can be decisive for staying.
Family reunification is a major pressure point:
- Family reunification is suspended for people with subsidiary protection (about 350,000) until June 2027.
- Those who do not meet the stricter refugee definition but still cannot safely return may remain in Germany on subsidiary protection, yet face long waits to bring spouses or children — a gap described by VisaVerge.com as one of the hardest parts of current German policy.
Return support and remaining uncertainties
Germany continues to offer assistance for voluntary returns.
- Programs include REAG/GARP and NRP Syria, referenced in the source material.
- Syrians receiving letters from BAMF or local immigration offices often seek rapid, reliable guidance. BAMF provides official information at the BAMF asylum and refugee protection portal.
What remains unclear from the provided material:
- How many of the more than 550 file-review withdrawals will be appealed and challenged in court.
- How quickly any repatriation agreements with Syria’s transitional government will be negotiated and implemented.
Key takeaways
Germany’s system is moving away from treating Syrians as a group automatically protected and toward case-by-case assessments. Applicants are increasingly required to show an individualized risk of persecution rather than relying on broad country-wide conditions.
This change is already visible in higher rejection numbers, some orders with deportation timetables and re-entry bans, increased voluntary returns, and tightened rules on family reunification — all of which create new legal and social pressures for Syrians in Germany.
Germany’s BAMF has rescinded protection for over 550 Syrians after file reviews and court rulings ended group freezes. Courts now require individualized proof of persecution. October 2025 saw 1,906 first-time rejections; roughly 10,700 departure orders were issued and 21,800 Syrians left voluntarily through September 2025. Family reunification for subsidiary protection is suspended until June 2027. Officials cite external data to justify returns while critics warn of risks and call for careful case review.
