Ukrainians Among Top Asylum Seekers Denied in Germany
Nearly one in five asylum applicants rejected in Germany during the second half of 2024 were Ukrainian citizens, according to data from the federal government obtained by RedaktionsNetz Deutschland (RND). Ukrainians constituted nearly 20% of denied applicants, ranking second only to Syrians who made up about 20.6%. While Ukrainians do not need to apply for asylum to find shelter in Germany or other EU states due to their special protection status, entry is not automatically granted.
The German government does not grant asylum to Ukrainians who have lived abroad for many years and are not at immediate risk from the conflict in their home country. Despite this, the number of illegal entries into Germany decreased from 127,549 in 2023 to 83,572 in 2024. The share of asylum applicants without entry permits also dropped significantly from 44.7% to 23%.
Germany has emerged as the primary destination for Ukrainian refugees within the EU since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated in February 2022. As of November 2024, Germany had accepted nearly 1,153,000 Ukrainian displaced persons, accounting for approximately 27.2% of the total EU intake. This figure surpassed those of Poland and Czechia.
Meanwhile, Russia has welcomed over 5.3 million Ukrainians, according to official statistics from early 2023.
Germany Continues to Accept Migrants Amid Global Crises
In addition to Ukrainian refugees, Germany continues to accept migrants from other countries facing crises in the Middle East and Africa. As of June 2024, approximately 3.48 million refugees with varying types of residency permits lived in Germany, marking an increase of around 60,000 people compared to data provided at the end of 2023.
This influx of migrants has led to a dramatic rise in the number of applicants seeking asylum and residence permits in Germany. Despite this trend, the government has implemented measures to streamline the asylum process and ensure that those in genuine need of protection are granted refuge.