Germany revokes protected status of Syrian refugees at sharply rising rate: 23.2% of reviews in 2026

Germany is revoking the protected status of Syrian refugees at a sharply rising rate, with 23.2% of 8,320 reviews in the first half of 2026 resulting in withdrawal or revocation, according to a government response to a parliamentary question from the Left Party. The figure marks a significant increase from 3.7% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2024 .

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) stated that most revocations involved the removal of refugee status or subsidiary protection, which is granted when there is a risk of serious harm such as the death penalty, torture, or armed conflict in the country of origin. Revocations occur when the conditions justifying protection no longer apply, primarily due to fundamental changes in the home country .

The shift follows the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 by an Islamist-led rebel alliance, after which hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees returned to their homeland, mainly from Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. While the security situation in parts of Syria remains tense, with outbreaks of sectarian violence, BAMF began expanding status reviews in mid-June beyond criminals or those known to have left for Syria. The agency now examines cases where individuals are deemed less vulnerable and capable of sustaining themselves in Syria, or where sufficient support is available .

BAMF’s expanded reviews also include cases where asylum procedures have lasted longer than 21 months or where courts have ordered decisions due to inaction. Initially, revocation checks were limited to offenders, security threats, or those confirmed to have returned to Syria .

In March, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced a goal of repatriating 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrian refugees in Germany within three years .