Asylum Claim Cases Surge at German Courts in First Quarter of 2025
In the first quarter of 2025, the number of asylum-related cases and preliminary proceedings at German administrative courts has significantly increased, according to reports by the Bild newspaper, citing data from the Higher Administrative Courts of all German states. A total of 46,427 new cases were filed, a 67% surge compared to the same period in the previous year, when there were 27,882 cases.
Lower Saxony recorded the highest growth, with the number of asylum-related cases and preliminary proceedings rising from 2,226 in the first quarter of 2024 to 4,887 in the same period of 2025, a 119% increase. Schleswig-Holstein, the Saarland, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony followed, with growth rates of 119%, 110%, 106% and 100%, respectively.
The Federal Association of Administrative Judges has expressed skepticism about the government’s and states’ goal of significantly shortening asylum procedures by July 2026 in light of the recent figures. “Many states will not be able to complete asylum procedures within the planned six-month timeframe” said Caroline Bülow, the association’s vice chair, to the Bild.
The Thuringian Administrative Judges’ Association has warned of a potential collapse of the personnel system. “We already have as much work on our desks for 2025 as for an entire year” said Thomas Lenhart, the association’s chair, to the Bild. Without a significant increase in personnel at the administrative courts, Thuringia can expect processing times of up to 24 months for 2026, Lenhart explained.