The IND will process pending applications more quickly

On 12 June 2026, the European Pact on Asylum and Migration will enter into force. The government wants the IND to meet the decision deadlines set out in this agreement. To achieve this, the IND will prioritise processing new asylum applications as soon as the pact comes into effect. 

Applications submitted before 12 June

The prioritisation of new applications will affect more than 54,000 people who submitted their applications before 12 June 2026. Part of this group will have to wait longer for the IND to decide. The new asylum procedure does allow for faster processing of these applications.
In addition, the Minister has asked the IND to take measures to minimise the negative impact on applicants. 
The IND will divide pending applications into categories. Based in part on the relevant country policies, applications will be assessed based on their likelihood of success and handled using a simplified procedure where possible.

Groups

Starting on 1 October 2026, the IND will begin inviting the first group of applicants to be processed under the new procedure. Where possible, similar applications will be prepared and processed together. Over a certain period of time, each processing team will focus on specific groups of applications, for example based on nationality. This makes the handling process more efficient by allowing for the more effective use of knowledge and expertise. The IND expects this new method to result in faster decision-making.
Progress will be monitored continuously, with the IND periodically publishing figures on the processing of new and pending applications. 

Pending applications

The backlog of over 54,000 pending applications has developed in part because the number of asylum applications submitted over the past few years was higher than the IND was able to handle. Although processing speed has increased in recent years, improvements are needed. This is why the IND is now switching to a new approach. It should also be noted that applications currently waiting for a decision are at different stages of the asylum process. Some are closer to the decision-making phase than others.

Uncertainty

‘The incredibly long waiting times create a lot of uncertainty for applicants,’ says IND Director General Rhodia Maas. ‘Many people have to live in uncertainty about their future for a long time. I’m very much aware of how difficult that is. While it may still take longer for some applicants to receive a decision, this approach should ultimately result in faster processing of applications overall than is currently possible.’