No decision on Iranian asylum applications for the time being

Published at: 02/04/2026, 00:00

Until now, the unrest in Iran, with many deaths during demonstrations against the regime, has not been a reason to change asylum policy in the Netherlands. Now there is war in the Middle East, as Israel and the United States attacked Iran last Saturday. Read what that means for Iranian asylum seekers in the Netherlands in this article.

A six-month decision and departure moratorium after all

Update from 19 March 2026

The Minister for Asylum and Migration has, after all, imposed a

decision and departure moratorium

on Iran. This is because it does not appear that the war in the Middle East will end any time soon.

The decision and departure moratorium will last for at least six months. After that, a decision will be made as to whether it will be extended by a further six months. This means that the

Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

will not make any decisions on asylum applications from Iranian asylum seekers for six months. And that Iranian asylum seekers who have not been granted asylum will still be entitled to a place in a reception centre for the next 6 months. To this end, they can report to Ter Apel. A new

official notice

regarding Iran is likely to be issued in the third quarter of this year.

Update from 4 March 2026

The Dutch Ministry of Asylum and Migration has asked the IND to temporarily pause Iranian asylum applications due to the latest developments. This means that hearings of Iranian asylum seekers already scheduled will continue, but no new hearings will be scheduled. And no decisions will be made. And no forced departures to Iran will take place.

How long this pause lasts, what will happen next and whether there will be new policies, depends on the situation in Iran. The ministry does not want to anticipate that yet. There is currently no question of an official decision or departure moratorium.

VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

believes the Netherlands should change its asylum policy for Iranian refugees. Asylum seekers who have faced opposition in Iran or in the Netherlands, or would likely to do so upon return, are at risk. They are at risk of arrest, mistreatment or worse in their country. They should therefore be granted an asylum permit.

As soon as there is more information, RefugeeHelp will let you know here. It is now unclear for how long the IND will stop processing asylum applications from Iranian asylum seekers. And especially what would have to change for it to do so again.

No decision on Iranian asylum applications for the time being

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A six-month decision and departure moratorium after all

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