Department of the Interior confirms: Cuts to independent asylum counseling
According to a report by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), the federal government plans to cut funding for independent asylum counseling. According to the RND, this is evident from a response from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The report states that financial support for counseling centers is set to be discontinued starting in the 2027 fiscal year.
According to RND, the ministry cites the federal government’s difficult financial situation as the reason for this move. The government must carefully examine where funds are being spent. In this context, funding for independent asylum counseling has been identified as a potential area for cost savings.
However, a final decision has not yet been made. Whether the federal government will continue to provide financial support for independent asylum counseling will be decided in the coming months. That is when the federal budget for 2027 will be approved.
Background: What is independent asylum counseling?
For many refugees, independent asylum counseling is an important first point of contact in Germany. It helps asylum seekers better understand the asylum process, learn about their rights and obligations, and prepare for important steps.
This counseling service supplements the information that asylum seekers receive from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The key difference is that the BAMF provides information about the procedure and decides on the asylum application. The independent counseling, on the other hand, is offered by civil society organizations. It is free of charge and independent of the authorities.
In practice, the counseling centers provide support in the following areas, for example:
- to understand the asylum process,
- Knowing your rights and responsibilities,
- prepare important documents,
- to prepare for hearings at the BAMF,
- To better understand questions about your own process
Independent asylum counseling can also benefit government agencies. When asylum seekers have a better understanding of their rights, obligations, and the procedure, cases can often be processed more quickly and smoothly.
The independent asylum counseling program was approved by the federal government in late 2022 and launched in mid-2023. To date, Germany has allocated up to 25 million euros per year for this program.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, a total of 67,687 asylum seekers received support from independent counseling centers in 2025. Since the program was launched, approximately 175,000 people have taken advantage of it.
Why the decision is drawing criticism
The Ministry of the Interior also cites the results of a study conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) on counseling services as a reason for the planned suspension of funding.
The problem, according to critics, is that the report has not yet been made public. According to the ministry, it is still being finalized and is expected to be published in the second quarter of 2026.
Critics are therefore objecting to the fact that a decision on the future of independent asylum counseling is to be made even though the results of the study have not yet been made public.
Criticism from political parties and associations
The Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Bundestag considers the planned suspension of funding to be problematic. They warn that without independent support, asylum seekers may have a harder time understanding their rights and obligations during the proceedings.
Filiz Polat, parliamentary secretary for the Green Party, told the RND that without independent counseling, more errors could occur in the asylum process. In her view, this could also have consequences for government agencies and the courts. If asylum seekers do not fully understand the process, it could lead to more lawsuits and longer proceedings.
Charities are also warning of the potential consequences. They fear that without federal funding, many counseling services will not be able to continue. In addition, qualified staff members could lose their jobs.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior acknowledges that the discontinuation of funding could have an impact on the organizations involved. At the same time, the ministry remains committed to its goal of reducing federal budget expenditures. Whether funding for independent asylum counseling will ultimately be secured for 2027 remains to be seen in the coming months.
