In September 2025, 58 495 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, marking a 24% decrease compared with September 2024 (76 920) and a 14% increase compared with August 2025 (51 465). 

There were also 16 185 subsequent applicants, representing a 152% increase compared with September 2024 (6 435) and a 17% rise compared with August 2025 (13 780).

In the third quarter of 2025, 209 860 first instance asylum decisions were issued in the EU, up 16% compared with the same period of the previous year (180 510) and up 8% compared with the previous quarter (194 730). Out of these decisions, 43% were positive (89 850).  

This information comes from the monthly and quarterly asylum data published by Eurostat today. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained articles on monthly asylum applications statistics and on quarterly asylum decisions statistics.

First-time and subsequent asylum applicants in the EU, January 2021 - September 2025 (number of applicants). Double line chart. Link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: migr_asyappctzm

Largest group of asylum seekers from Venezuela

In September 2025, Venezuelans were the largest group of people seeking asylum (6 760 first-time applicants), followed by Afghans (6 460), Syrians (3 135) and Bangladeshis (2 985).

Spain, Italy, France and Germany received 72% of first-time applicants

Spain (11 355), Italy (11 220), France (10 490) and Germany (9 120) received the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 72% of all first-time applicants in the EU.

There were 13.0 first-time asylum applicants per hundred thousand people in the EU in September 2025. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2025), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (51.9), ahead of Cyprus (26.8) and Ireland (24.1).

1 775 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum

In September 2025, a total of 1 775 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU. The highest numbers of unaccompanied minors came from Eritrea (295), Afghanistan (230), Somalia (225), Venezuela (145) and Egypt (135).

Unaccompanied minors in the EU, September 2025 (number of applicants applying for asylum for the first time). Bar charts. Link to full dataset below.

Source dataset: migr_asyumactm

The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were the Netherlands (440), Germany (265) and Spain (235).

Decrease in positive asylum decisions

In the third quarter of 2025, EU countries granted protection status at first instance to 89 850 asylum seekers, indicating a 1% decrease compared with the same quarter of 2024 (90 535) and 37% increase from the second quarter of 2025 (65 735).

Among asylum seekers granted protection status at first instance in the EU, 49% received refugee status, 30% received humanitarian status and 21% were given subsidiary protection.

Spain (25 005), Germany (23 325) and France (16 245) issued the highest numbers of positive decisions at first instance in the third quarter of 2025. Afghans (24 920), Venezuelans (20 600) and Ukrainians (4 675) were the main beneficiaries of protection status in the EU in the same period.