Dutch Asylum System Faces Two-Year Terrorism Screening Delays as Backlogs Reach Record Levels
The Hague, 20 May 2026
The Dutch Court of Audit reveals that asylum seekers now wait an average of 67 weeks for decisions, with terrorism screenings taking two years instead of the mandated 14 days. Over 51,000 people remain in limbo, with three-quarters waiting longer than six months. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service acknowledges these critical failures as new European migration rules take effect on 12 June 2026, potentially exacerbating delays.
Critical Failures in Security Screening Timeline
The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has fundamentally failed to meet its terrorism screening obligations, with the process now taking an average of two years instead of the mandated 14 days [1]. This represents a dramatic deterioration in security protocols, as screening is designed to identify potential risks to national security early in the asylum process [GPT]. The Court of Audit’s findings, published on 20 May 2026, reveal that the responsible minister lacks essential management information about screening numbers, outcomes, and timeliness [1]. This absence of oversight means the government cannot determine whether security risks have been properly identified or managed [1].
Record Asylum Application Backlog Overwhelms System
As of 31 December 2025, a staggering 51,790 asylum seekers from the ‘group 4’ category—those not from safe countries who have not previously applied for asylum elsewhere in Europe—awaited decisions from the IND [1]. The scale of the crisis becomes clearer when examining the breakdown: nearly three-quarters (40,350 individuals) have been waiting longer than six months, whilst over half (27,370 people) have endured waits exceeding 15 months [1]. The legally mandated six-month decision timeframe is now achieved in only 34% of cases [1], representing a systematic failure to meet statutory obligations. The average waiting time has escalated to 67 weeks, creating prolonged uncertainty for asylum seekers living in reception centres [1][3].
European Migration Pact Implementation Threatens Further Delays
The introduction of the European Asylum and Migration Pact on 12 June 2026 presents a paradox for Dutch asylum processing [1]. Whilst the new framework promises earlier screening procedures and shorter processing times for new applications, the IND faces a critical resource allocation dilemma [1]. The service plans to dedicate 73% of its capacity to processing new asylum applications under the Migration Pact, potentially pushing decisions for the existing 51,790 backlogged cases into 2031 [1]. This prioritisation strategy acknowledges the IND’s recognition that applicants endure ‘major mental and other consequences’ from prolonged waiting periods [1]. The agency attributes current delays to higher-than-expected asylum applications from 2021 to 2023, alongside increasingly complex working methods and evolving legislation [1].
Broader Government Performance Crisis Revealed
The asylum processing failures form part of a wider pattern of governmental underperformance identified by the Court of Audit in its annual accountability review [2][4]. Court President Pieter Duisenberg warned that movement on many policy areas is ‘away from the goal’, with the government consistently promising more than it can deliver [2]. The report highlights systemic problems across multiple sectors, including extended waiting times for disability assessments, persistent criminal justice backlogs particularly affecting sexual offence cases, and failure to meet housing construction targets [2][4]. These operational deficiencies directly impact citizens and reflect what the Court describes as a failure to establish proper foundational business operations [2]. The government’s struggle extends to environmental targets, with goals for cleaner water, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and nitrogen reduction likely to remain unmet [4].