What is a revocation review procedure?
In a revocation review procedure, the BAMF checks whether a recognized protection status is still justified. The legal basis for this is provided by Sections 73 ff. of the Asylum Act (AsylG). Depending on the type of protection—for example, asylum, refugee protection, subsidiary protection, or national ban on deportation—different regulations apply.
This means that, in certain cases, the BAMF may review whether the reasons for protection still exist. Protection may be revoked, for example, if the situation in the country of origin has changed or improved significantly, if those affected have committed serious crimes, or if they have voluntarily returned to their country of origin.
In the case of Syria, the review is often justified by the changed situation following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.
Important: The law expressly stipulates that each decision must be made on a case-by-case basis. An ongoing revocation review procedure does not therefore automatically mean that protection status will be withdrawn.
Special focus on certain groups
According to information from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, cited by the BILD newspaper, the current review is aimed in particular at certain groups of people. These include people who have committed criminal offenses, so-called dangerous individuals, and people who have returned to Syria temporarily or permanently after being granted asylum.
In such cases, the BAMF examines particularly carefully whether there is still a need for personal protection or whether revocation is legally possible.
According to the BAMF, a total of 16,737 revocation review proceedings involving Syrian nationals had been completed by the end of November 2025. In most cases, protection status was maintained. However, more than 20,000 revocation review proceedings are still pending.
Hardly any new protection titles for Syrians
Parallel to the ongoing revocation reviews, significantly fewer asylum applications from Syrian asylum seekers are currently being approved. According to a report in Welt am Sonntag, the BAMF is currently only granting protection status in very few cases.
According to this, only around 0.8 percent of cases decided in October were granted protection status. In total, the BAMF processed 3,134 asylum applications from Syrian nationals this month. Only one person was granted asylum under the Basic Law, ten people were granted refugee protection under the Geneva Refugee Convention, nine people were granted subsidiary protection, and six people were granted a national ban on deportation.
What can those affected do now?
Important: Even though the BAMF is currently reviewing the protection status of many Syrians, this does not automatically mean that their Residence permit will Residence permit . Revocation proceedings must always be examined on a case-by-case basis. Those affected therefore have the opportunity to explain their personal situation and their need for protection.
The following points may help:
- Take letters from the BAMF seriously and observe deadlines
If you receive a letter regarding the revocation review procedure, you should read it carefully. Pay particular attention to any deadlines set for comments or hearings. Missing deadlines can have a negative impact on the procedure. - Collect evidence of integration, language skills, work, and education
Document your integration efforts in Germany as completely as possible. This includes, in particular, language certificates, employment contracts, training or study certificates, and school reports for yourself or your children. Volunteer work may also be relevant. Such evidence can play an important role in the procedure and usually strengthens your position under residence law. - Present individual grounds for protection
Even if the general situation in Syria has changed, there may still be a personal need for protection. This includes, for example, political activities, previous persecution, membership of certain groups or minorities, individual threats, or health reasons. These should be presented in a concrete and comprehensible manner. - Collect evidence and documents
Collect all available documents that can prove your individual risk. These include medical certificates, psychological reports, documents relating to political involvement, previous decisions, or evidence of threats to family members. - Have trips to Syria checked
If you have traveled to Syria since your recognition, you should definitely have this checked legally. Voluntary return trips can be interpreted as an indication that there is no longer a need for protection. It is therefore important Foreigners' office permission from the Foreigners' office before each trip. - Take criminal allegations seriously
If there are criminal convictions or ongoing investigations, particular caution is required. Early legal advice is particularly important in this case. - Seek legal advice
Cancellation procedures are legally complex. Qualified advice from specialist lawyers or experienced advice centers can be crucial in avoiding mistakes and effectively exercising your rights. - Know the deadlines for legal remedies
If the BAMF does indeed issue a revocation, there are usually legal options for taking action against it. Legal action against revocation notices is possible, but must be taken within a short period of time.
