Germany’s Interior Ministry reports nearly 40,000 first-time asylum applications in the first half of 2026, a sharp decline from last year.

The German Interior Ministry has registered approximately 39,646 first-time asylum applications in the first half of 2026, marking a decrease of over 20,000 compared to the same period last year. This decline is significant when compared to the 61,336 applications recorded in the first half of 2025.

The European asylum reform, which came into effect on June 12, aims to streamline processes and includes stricter rules for deportations. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has intensified border controls and instructed the federal police to reject asylum seekers, except for those in vulnerable situations. In the first half of this year, 14,270 individuals were turned away at the borders.