Significantly more tests – revocations only rare
According to the federal government, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) initiated a total of 23,101 new revocation or withdrawal reviews of protection status between January and November 2025. That is around 5,500 more proceedings than in the same period last year. At the same time, the BAMF made a decision in a total of 41,887 cases, including cases that had already been initiated in the previous year.
Despite the increase in the number of examinations, protection status remained unchanged in around 93 percent of all cases decided. Only 2,839 cases ended with the revocation or withdrawal of protection status.
Withdrawal due to false or misleading information played only a minor role. In only 310 cases did the BAMF conclude that protection status should not have been granted in the first place.
As reported by the RND, the protection status of the following countries of origin, among others, was reviewed:
- Afghanistan: 5,100 reviews → Revocation in 6.5 percent of cases
- Iraq: 6,100 reviews → Revocation in 12.1 percent of cases
- Eritrea: 1,700 reviews → Revocation in 7.3 percent of cases
- Iran: 2,700 reviews → Revocation in 4.8 percent of cases
- Somalia: 1,100 reviews → Revocation in 8.5 percent of cases
- Turkey: 2,400 reviews → Revocation in 4.4 percent of cases
High confirmation rate among refugees from Syria
Last year, the BAMF reviewed the protection status of Syrian nationals particularly frequently. During this period alone, the authority initiated 9,077 new review procedures. The BAMF made a decision in a total of 16,737 cases, including procedures that had already been initiated in the previous year.
In 96.7 percent of cases, the existing protection status was confirmed. Revocations or withdrawals thus remained the exception, even for Syrian refugees.
The situation is different for asylum applications. According to a report in Welt am Sonntag, the BAMF currently only grants protection status in very few cases.
According to this, in October 2025, only a very small proportion of asylum applications decided were granted protection status. In total, the BAMF decided on 3, 134 asylum cases involving Syrian nationals that month. Protection status was granted in only around 0.8 percent of cases.
Deportation to Syria: German government discusses repatriations
The current figures thus contrast with the political debate about the future of Syrian refugees in Germany. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, there has been increasing discussion about whether deportations to Syria should be possible again.
At the beginning of 2026, the CSU regional group in the Bundestag, among others, spoke out in favor of the return of many Syrians. The coalition agreement of the current federal government also provides for a renewed focus on repatriation to Syria. Initially, this will mainly affect convicted criminals and dangerous individuals. In the long term, however, there are also discussions about deporting people whose asylum applications have been rejected andwho do not have Residence permit legal Residence permit.
In contrast, the Left Party is currently calling for a nationwide halt to deportations of Syrian refugees. In view of renewed fighting and the continuing unstable security situation in several regions of Syria, the party warns against hasty repatriations.
Political discussions do not appear to have had any impact on the BAMF's decisions so far. Despite the changed situation in Syria, the agency confirmed protection status in the vast majority of cases reviewed.
Background: When can the BAMF review or revoke protection status?
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) is legally obliged to review protection status on a regular basis. This is stipulated in the Asylum Act.
This affects all forms of international and national protection. This includes recognized asylum seekers, recognized refugees, persons entitled to subsidiary protection, and persons with a national ban on deportation.
Protection status may be reviewed if the situation in the country of origin has changed or if there are doubts about the original decision. However, a distinction must be made between revocation and withdrawal of protection status:
- Revocation: Revocation may be considered if the reasons for protection no longer apply. This may be the case, for example, if the security situation in the country of origin has improved fundamentally and permanently and there is no longer any threat of persecution or serious danger.
- Withdrawal: Withdrawal requires that the protection status was granted unlawfully from the outset. This is the case, for example, if false information was provided, facts were concealed, or the authorities were deceived. In such cases, the BAMF assumes that the protection status should not have been granted in the first place.
Important: Whether a person receives or retains protection is always assessed on a case-by-case basis. Decisions do not depend solely on the country of origin, but on the specific situation of the individual.
As part of its review, the BAMF considers, among other things, the reasons for fleeing, the specific dangers involved in returning, and the personal circumstances of the person concerned. Even if the general situation in a country of origin changes, this does not automatically lead to the withdrawal of existing protection status. The decisive factor is always the individual case and the question of whether the person concerned continues to be at serious risk.
Conclusion: Despite increased checks, protection status usually remains unchanged
The figures from 2025 show that revocations or withdrawals of protection status remain the exception in practice. Despite an increase in the number of review procedures, the BAMF confirmed protection status in most cases. The confirmation rate is particularly high for refugees from Syria.
The individual assessment of each case remains crucial. Protection status can only be revoked if the situation in the country of origin has improved permanently or if protection was granted unjustifiably from the outset.
For persons entitled to protection, this means that even if the situation in their country of origin changes, the BAMF will continue to carefully examine whether there is an individual risk to the person concerned.
