Greece’s asylum approval rate fell to 37 percent in the first eight months of 2026, marking a sharp decline from previous years as authorities apply stricter criteria to applications, according to sources at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.
The recognition rate stood at 72 percent in 2024 before dropping to 58 percent in 2025, the ministry sources said.
The decline has also affected applicants from countries traditionally associated with high levels of international protection. Citizens of Afghanistan and Sudan, whose asylum applications were previously approved at rates approaching 100 percent, are now seeing recognition rates below 70 percent.
Greece Tightens Asylum Assessments
Ministry sources attributed the decline to several changes in the way applications are handled. These include the immediate rejection of some applications on administrative grounds, greater use of individual assessments and consideration of whether applicants traveled through countries Greece regards as safe third countries before arriving.
According to the ministry sources, the government intends to reduce the overall recognition rate further, arguing that international protection should be granted only to applicants who meet the relevant requirements.
Approval rates are already particularly low among nationalities that Greek authorities do not generally consider to have a refugee profile. Applications from citizens of Bangladesh, Egypt and Pakistan, countries that have accounted for increased migration flows, have a recognition rate of less than 1 percent, according to the ministry sources.
New Migration Rules Restrict Applicants During Processing
The tougher approach follows the implementation of new migration rules in June 2026. Under the system described by the ministry sources, applicants deemed not to have a refugee profile can remain subject to restrictions on their freedom while their claims are examined.
If their applications are rejected, they are then placed in the return process. During this period, they do not acquire the right to work.
Greek authorities have described the approach with the phrase “prison or return,” reflecting the government’s emphasis on restricting unsuccessful asylum seekers and accelerating returns.
The figures underline a significant shift in Greece’s asylum policy at a time when migration remains a major issue for the country, which sits on one of the principal routes into the European Union from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
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