The Minister for Asylum and Migration has decided to reverse the extensions of the decision period on outstanding asylum applications, with effect from 1 June 2026. This decision came following a judgment by the Council of State, which found that that there was no sudden significant increase in asylum applications from 27 September 2022-1 January 2023 that could justify the extension of the decision-making period on asylum applications submitted during this period. The basis of the Council of State’s decision was a preliminary ruling by the CJEU.
The minister has since decided to reverse the subsequent extension decisions, including for applications submitted from 1 January 2023. There were four extension decisions in total, with the last two extensions already reversed in 2025. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service noted that this may affect the ongoing penalty payment procedures rather than lead to a faster settlement of cases.
- Immigration and Naturalisation Service | Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst (2 June, 2026), Verlengingen beslistermijn voor asielaanvragen teruggedraaid [Extensions of decision period for asylum applications reversed],