Asylum is no longer a migration route, applications drop 28% for January-March, work permits are now preferred

Requesting international protection in one of the European Union countries is no longer seen as a way to leave the country.

Eurostat data shows that asylum applications from Albanian citizens in the first three months of this year were 1,045, which is the lowest level since 2013, before a wave of massive immigration to the country through this form began, with 2015 holding the record level, with over 8 thousand such applications for January-March of that year. (see chart).

Compared to the same period a year ago, asylum applications in January-March 2026 have decreased by about 28%.

France, historically a favorite destination for asylum seekers, received only 310 applications from Albania in the first three months of the year. By comparison, in 2022, when another wave of applications resumed after the pandemic, this country had processed nearly 1,500 requests from Albanian citizens, who were attracted by the French state's social policies.

The decline in asylum applications does not necessarily indicate that immigration rates have fallen at the same rate. A more preferred form of immigration is now work permits.

While asylum applications are expected to drop to around 5,000 in 2025, other Eurostat data shows that in 2022-2024 alone, an average of 20,000 work permits were granted per year, mainly in Italy, Greece and Germany, up from around 3-4,000 a decade ago.

As a result, departures through work permits are now, on average, four times higher than asylum requests. Others also leave for other reasons, with family reunification dominating.

INSTAT also confirmed that the emigration trend continued to remain high. On average, around 28-30 thousand people leave the country net (emigrations minus returns) per year.

From January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2026, more than 166.4 thousand Albanians appear to have left the country, demonstrating further deepening of the demographic crisis and emigration in Albania in an already smaller and older population.

Fewer new asylum applications in the EU, but more positive decisions

In March 2026, a total of 47,100 first-time non-EU nationals applied for international protection in the European Union. This represents a decrease of 19% compared to March 2025 (58,025 applications) and an increase of 1% compared to February 2026 (46,420 applications).

Meanwhile, 10,075 repeat asylum applications, or requests submitted by people who had previously applied, were also registered. This number was 28% higher than in March 2025 (7,855) and 11% higher than in February 2026 (9,080).

During the first quarter of 2026, EU countries' authorities took 205,945 first-instance decisions on asylum applications, an increase of 4% compared to the same period last year (198,560 decisions). However, this number was 10% lower compared to the previous quarter (230,035 decisions).

Of all the decisions taken, 41% were positive, meaning that 84,925 applicants were granted international protection in the EU.

In March 2026, Venezuelans made up the largest group of people seeking asylum in the European Union, with 6,880 first-time asylum applications. They were followed by Afghans with 4,180 applications, Bangladeshis with 3,195 and Syrians with 1,690 applications.

The highest number of first-time applicants was registered in Italy (10,900), Spain (10,840), France (8,895) and Germany (6,980). These four countries concentrated around 80% of all first-time asylum applications in the EU.

In March 2026, at EU level there were 10.5 first-time asylum applicants per 100,000 inhabitants. Taking into account the population of each Member State, the highest rates were recorded in Greece (23.2 applicants per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by Spain (22.1) and Cyprus (19.0).

Over 1,000 unaccompanied minors sought asylum

In March 2026, a total of 1,035 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in the EU for the first time. The largest number came from Somalia (260), Venezuela (165), Afghanistan (130), Sudan (65) and Syria (50).

Positive asylum decisions in the EU increased in the first quarter of 2026

The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Germany (280), the Netherlands (190), Spain (185), France (105) and Greece (80).

In the first quarter of 2026, EU countries granted first-instance protection status to 84,925 asylum seekers. This represents an increase of 28% compared to the same quarter of 2025 (66,575), but a decrease of 18% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (103,580).

Of the asylum seekers who received protection in the EU, 53% received refugee status, 24% subsidiary protection and 23% humanitarian status.

Germany (27,860), Spain (16,820) and France (15,210) issued the highest number of positive first-instance decisions during the first quarter of 2026.

The main beneficiaries of protection status in the EU during this period were Afghans (24,960), Venezuelans (10,435) and Syrians (6,505)./ Monitor