Statistics

Author

Nikola Kovačević

Overview of statistical practice

The Asylum Office does not publish statistics on asylum applications and decisions. Basic figures are published by UNHCR, but on the basis of information provided by the Asylum Office. Positive and negative decision rates are weighed against the total number of decisions in the same timeframe. It does not refer to the number of persons, which is higher than the number of decisions. One decision can encompass two or more asylum seekers. It is also important to note that decisions on discontinuing asylum procedure due to absconding are still the most common decisions and that is the reason why, in relation to many nationalities, there are no in-merits decisions.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: 2023^[1]

Source: UNHCR Office in Serbia and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia – Border Police Department – Asylum Office, Response on the request for the information of public importance of the MoI no. 07-34/24 of 15 April 2024.

Note 1: statistics on applicants and pending concern people, including children and dependents. The rest of the columns concern number of decisions as that is usually the (only) data available.

Note 2: “Applicants in year” refers to the total number of applicants, and not only to first-time applicants. If data is available only on first-time applicants, specify this in the source.

Note 3: Statistics on decisions cover the decisions taken throughout the year, regardless of whether they concern applications lodged that year or in previous years.

Note 4: see Inadmissibility.

Note 5: “Rejection” in this column only covers negative decisions on the merit of the application.

Note 6: Temporary residency on humanitarian grounds (‘привремени боравак из хуманитарних разлога’), which can be granted for the period ranging from 6 months to 3 years, in line with the Article 61 of the Foreigners Act.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: rates for 2023

Source: UNHCR office in Serbia and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia – Border Police Department – Asylum Office Response on the request for the information of public importance of the MoI no. 07-34/24 of 15 April 2024.

Note 1: these rates are calculated based on in merit decisions only, excluding non in-merit rejections, as well as decision on temporary residency on humanitarian grounds, as it is irrelevant for the assessment of the asylum procedure in the Serbian context.

Note 2: these rates are calculated based on total decisions.

Gender/age breakdown of the total number of persons issued with the certificate on the intention to apply for asylum in the Republic of Serbia: 2023

Source: UNHCR Office in Serbia and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia – Border Police Department – Asylum Office

[Note: The gender breakdown (Men/Women) for asylum applicants was not provided by the Asylum Office in 2023, but only a breakdown of persons who expressed their intention to lodge asylum application, and in line with the Article 35 (11) of the Asylum and Temporary Protection Act.]

First instance and appeal decision rates: 2023

It should be noted that, during the same year, the first instance and appeal authorities handle different caseloads. Thus, the decisions below do necessarily not concern the same applicants.

Source: UNHCR and Asylum Commission response to the request for the information on public importance no. 01/24 of 10 April 2024.

^[1] It is important to note that for the purpose of the 2023 Update to this report, the Asylum Office delivered copies of all decisions rendered in the period from 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, which provided the author, for the first time, with the possibility to provide accurate statistical and substantive data and analysis of practice.

^[2] Apart from the above-enlisted nationalities, one person from Guinea received temporary residency on humanitarian grounds, as well as one person from Sudan.

^[3] Please in brief list other possible ‘positive’ appeal decisions but that do not directly grant refugee status or subsidiary protection, e.g. decisions that grant the applicant’s appeal and send the application back to the first instance authority for a new decision; and add a in text reference to the relevant part of the report.

^[4] These positive decisions do no refer to granting of asylum or subsidiary protection, but to either an upholding of the appeal against the decision of the Asylum Office and referral of the case back to it as the first instance authority or a referral of the case back to the Asylum Office after the complaint against the decision of the Asylum Commission was upheld by the Administrative Court as the third instance authority. It is important to note that for the purpose of the 2023 Update to this report, the Asylum Commission delivered copies of all decisions rendered in the period from 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023, which provided the author, for the first time, with the possibility to provide accurate statistical and substantive data as well as analysis of practice.