Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has confirmed that almost all Syrian refugees continue to retain protected status—even after the end of the civil war in Syria.
Between January and November 2025, the authority reviewed a total of 41,887 revocation and withdrawal procedures, 16,737 of which concerned Syrian nationals. Of these, 96.7% were confirmed as keeping their protection status, allowing them to remain in Germany.
Overall, BAMF maintained protection status in approximately 93% of all cases, revoking or withdrawing only 2,839 cases. In 310 instances, the status was withdrawn due to false information or deception. The findings were revealed in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the Left party.
The decision to maintain protection for almost all Syrians is notable given the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024 and the subsequent stabilization of the country. Meanwhile, new asylum applications from Syrians are seldom approved: in October 2025, only 26 out of 3,134 applicants received some form of protection, with a single individual granted asylum under the Basic Law. Federal authorities also reported that 1,867 Syrians returned voluntarily to Syria with federal assistance by the end of August.
Rising security concerns have emerged alongside the continued protection of Syrian refugees, as crime rates among Syrians remain disproportionately high. A report by Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) highlights that Syrians and Afghans show disproportionately high levels of involvement in violent, sexual, and drug-related offenses. In 2024, Syrians accounted for 1,740 suspects per 100,000 inhabitants and Afghans for 1,722, compared to 163 per 100,000 among German citizens.
