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Did you flee Eritrea because you were in the army or were forced to join? If so, you now have the chance to be granted A-status

Published at: 09/04/2026, 00:00

Asylum policy for Eritrea is set to change. This was announced by the Minister for Asylum and Migration in a letter dated 1 April 2026 to the House of Representatives. From now on, people who have fled conscription or deserted from the army will be granted asylum on the basis of ground A. Previously, they were granted B-status.

The authorities in Eritrea regard fleeing the country as treason

According to the

of December 2025, the Eritrean president and government regard leaving the country at an age when one is required to perform military service as treason. Eritreans who have deserted the army or evaded conscription by fleeing are therefore at risk if they are forced to return to Eritrea. As a group subject to persecution, they will therefore now be granted
instead of
.

Policy changes can also be important for family reunification

The fact that this group of Eritreans will now be granted A-status could also be significant for family reunification. If the proposal for a

in the Netherlands goes ahead, it will become more difficult for people with B-status to bring their families to the Netherlands. On 14 April 2026, the
will decide whether Minister Faber’s asylum laws will be adopted. The proposal for a dual-status system forms part of this. Read more about the asylum laws here.

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