New asylum procedure: opportunities and risks
The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) anticipates that it will be able decide on asylum applications more quickly once the new asylum procedure has been fully implemented. This is based on the findings of a study (only available in Dutch) into the impact of the most important changes as a consequence of the European Asylum and Migration Pact. The pace at which all the changes can be implemented is related to, among other things, the transition to an information supply system and the availability of sufficient capacity at the IND.
The IND will start the new asylum procedure on 12 June 2026. The new procedure brings together elements from the pact, changes to legislation and policy at national level and independent process-related choices. The new asylum procedure will give applicants clarity more quickly. The changes to the asylum system are the biggest reform of the last 30 years and will have a major impact on the whole asylum chain.
Insight into feasibility
The study of the IND provides insight into the opportunities, risks and preconditions for the new procedure to be successful. From the assessment of the asylum application to the definitive decision on that application. The effects of some sections of the law have already been studied. For example, the introduction of the two-status system (only available in Dutch) and the abolition of the intended decision procedure (only available in Dutch) have already been scrutinised in separate implementation assessments. The conclusions from those implementation assessments are still valid today. The entire overview has been shared with the Dutch Senate and the House of Representatives.
Phased introduction
In the words of Director General Rhodia Maas: 'The IND is facing a huge task. We have been working hard behind the scenes to prepare the new procedure for many months now. A fundamental simplification of the asylum procedure is required if we want to improve implementation in a sustainable way. On 12 June 2026, a new asylum procedure that complies with all due diligence requirements of the Migration Pact will be in place. As an organisation, we are ready to take on this challenge. That does not mean that everything will be ready on time. There is a growth pathway which means that we will continue to build on the supporting and facilitating work processes. However, the foundations will be in place on 12 June 2026 and we will be able to start processing all the new applications.'