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No decisions on applications filed by asylum seekers from Lebanon for now

Last update: 20 November 2024

For the time being, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) will not make any decisions on asylum applications filed by Lebanese people. Because of the uncertain situation in Lebanon, asylum decisions will be suspended. The decision will take effect after publication in the Government Gazette (in Dutch: ‘Staatscourant’).

Since 17 September of this year, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has increasingly escalated. Currently, it is uncertain how this conflict will develop and it seems like there will not be any de-escalation in the short term. In her letter to the House of Representatives (link only available in Dutch), Minister Faber writes that it is, consequently, not possible to formulate a durable policy and, therefore, no diligent and thoroughly considered decisions can be taken on applications by asylum seekers.  The minister has decided to temporarily not make any decisions on asylum applications from Lebanon. This means that, for the time being, no foreign nationals will be returned to the country either.

Decision and departure moratorium


Officially, this decision is called a decision and departure moratorium. When a conflict arises somewhere in the world and the situation in a specific country or area is uncertain for a short time, the Minister of Asylum and Migration can impose a decision and departure moratorium. Moratorium means postponement. The IND will not reject ongoing asylum applications, but will not grant any residence permits either. Neither will the IND start processing new asylum applications by this group. The Repatriation and Departure Service (in Dutch: ‘Dienst Terugkeer en Vertrek’ or DTenV) will not send any asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal means back to the conflict area during the moratorium.

Exemptions


The IND will continue to decide on applications that were submitted more than 21 months ago. We will also decide on applications that lead to a positive decision, meaning residence in the Netherlands, regardless of the security situation. Others exempt from both the decision and the departure moratorium include foreign nationals who were previously registered in another European country (those in the Dublin procedure), foreign nationals who already have international protection in another EU Member State, and public order and 1F cases.