On 18 December 2025, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security decided not to extend the suspension of asylum cases from Syria. This means that the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) may once again process asylum applications from persons from Syria.
At present, UNE has no cases that involve an assessment of return to Syria.
On 24 June 2025, the Ministry decided to suspend the processing of applications for protection from persons from Syria. This decision was based on the uncertain situation in Syria following the change of power in 2024. More than one year has now passed since the fall of the Assad regime, and the Ministry states in its press release that sufficient information about conditions in Syria is now available for case processing to be resumed.
Suspension of the obligation to return for Syrian nationals
Since 28 April 2011, UNE has maintained a general suspension of the obligation to return for Syrian nationals. Following a new assessment in June 2025, UNE decided to uphold the suspension until 24 December 2025. UNE will conduct a new assessment of the suspension in the new year. Until this assessment has been completed, the suspension remains in force until 22 January 2026.
This means that Syrian nationals who have received a final rejection of their case, and who do not have a new case under consideration, are still not required to return to Syria.
The decision applies to both individuals who have applied for protection (asylum), and individuals who are under an obligation to leave the country following a rejection of a residence application under other parts of the immigration legislation.