Average waiting times asylum

There are different asylum procedures in the Netherlands. Which procedure you follow depends on your journey and what country you are from. The IND must process asylum applications with small chance of an asylum permit more quickly. Did you apply for asylum in another European country or do you have a European visa? Then you follow the Dublin procedure. Do you have an asylum permit in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland? Or are you a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland? Then you follow the simplified asylum procedure. These procedures are shorter and you have 1 interview with the IND. When you follow the General Asylum procedure (in Dutch: Algemene Asielprocedure or AA), you have 2 interviews. The application interview and the detailed interview. In the detailed interview you explain extensively about the reasons of your asylum application.

Decision period of your asylum application

The law states that the IND has 6 months to decide upon an asylum application. This is the legal decision period. The waiting times are increasing. That is why the Dutch government decided to extend the decision period with 9 months. The IND has now decided to reverse part of the extension of the decision period. The extension is only valid if you applied for asylum between 27 September 2022 and 1 January 2024.

Decision usually later

Did you apply for asylum on or after 1 January 2024? Then the IND will adjust the statutory decision period. This will not happen for everyone at the same time, but we will do this in groups. You can see this in My IND. Unfortunately, reversing the extension does not mean you will get the decision sooner. It is still possible that the IND is late with a decision. Many asylum applications are still awaiting a decision and many asylum applications are still being made. We cannot tell you exactly when it will be your turn. 

When the IND starts with your asylum application, differs per procedure. The IND makes an estimate of how long it takes on average before your application is due. In the table below, you read how long it takes on average. 

It may take more or less time before your application is due

The waiting times are an average and are intended to provide a general overview. Sometimes the IND starts processing your application earlier or later. When your application is due, depends on your situation and the capacity of the IND. If your application is more complicated to decide on, an employee with additional knowledge is required. If you have an interview, the right employee and interpreter have to be available. And sometimes you need to be brought to your appointment.

Big differences between the waiting times for the detailed interview

It is possible that someone who has been in the Netherlands for a shorter amount of time will have their interview before you. This is because the IND does not process asylum applications in chronological order. The IND processes asylum applications in groups. We do this because special knowledge is needed for specific groups. The waiting time until the detailed interview depends on under what group your asylum applications falls. Within the groups, the IND tries to decide based on the chronological order of receipt.

Applications currently being processed

Currently (until May 2026), asylum applications with a start date before September 2023 are due. This applies to applications under the General Asylum procedure. Did you apply for asylum before September 2023? Then you will soon receive an invitation from the IND for your detailed interview.