According to the German Federal Ministry of the Interior, approximately 8,000 people reapplied for protection with the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) between January and May. The total for 2024 exceeded 26,000.
EU rules allow recognised asylum seekers to travel freely within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, under EU regulations, individuals who have already received protection in one member state are not permitted to file a new asylum claim in another. “Persons who have been granted protection in Greece must also claim protection there,” the Interior Ministry clarified.
Reports indicate that many of these recognised refugees arrive in Germany by air, and then stay on indefinitely, after—illegally—applying for protection again. The German Police Union (GdP) has expressed concern that current airport checks may be insufficient to manage such movements effectively.
The situation has prompted renewed public and political discussion. Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD party, commented on social media: “Around 8,000 ‘refugees’ already recognised in Greece travelled on to Germany in 2025 to apply for ‘protection’ here. This is absurd—we have long been calling for comprehensive checks and rejections at our airports.”
As Germany continues to navigate complex migration dynamics, policymakers are once again facing calls to review border procedures and ensure better coordination at the European level.
