The Refugee Appeals Board ends suspension of Syrian cases

The Refugee Appeals Board has just issued a news release stating that the processing of Syrian cases will resume after being suspended since the fall of Assad in December 2024. But the text is difficult to understand, so here is a more detailed explanation. The link to the news on the website does not work, so we have inserted the text as an image at the end of the article (in Danish).

Update 21 July 2025: Danish Immigration Service has announced that Syrian cases previously put on hold will be actively assessed, starting from after summer, just as the text in the article below suggests.

What happened in December 2024?

The Refugee Appeals Board is the appeals body and makes the final decisions in asylum cases, and the Immigration Service is the first instance, investigating the case and conducting interviews. 

When Assad's regime fell, there was a stack of Syrian cases on the Refugee Appeals Board's table. Approximately 75 people had been refused asylum or had their stay revoked by the Immigration Service, and were awaiting a final assessment by the board. In addition, approximately 30 Syrians were in what is called a 'return position', meaning they had already received a final refusal to stay in Denmark. 

The Refugee Appeals Board put both types of cases on hold because there was now a completely new political situation in Syria, and it will always take time before things calm down and can be assessed. The vast majority had been granted asylum precisely because they feared the Assad regime, which was now gone - but that did not necessarily mean that it would be safe for them to return.

When the Refugee Appeals Board suspends, the Immigration Service does too – because the agency must follow the board's line. Therefore, all new Syrian cases and certain extension cases have also been suspended. However, stays under section 7(1) have been extended continuously.

What happens now?

The Refugee Appeals Board has decided that it can now start deciding Syrian cases again. But because the situation is so different from before, all 75 cases that were waiting for a decision in the board will be sent back to the Immigration Service for a new assessment. And the 30 that already had a final refusal will be resumed by the board if they wish.

This is not immediately about the hundreds of extension cases that have been put on hold. But the Immigration Service will probably start processing them soon too. The group that is waiting in the asylum centers to have their cases processed for the first time will probably also soon be called for interviews and receive a decision. 

It is very difficult to guess how the authorities will assess the individual cases. Ultimately, it is the Refugee Appeals Board that decides.

What do we know about the situation in Syria?

In June, the Danish Immigration Service published a country report on security in Syria, and in March, a report was published by the EU asylum office EUAA. Both reports describe a changing and unstable situation with many human rights violations, where unrest and conflicts easily flare up, and where a legal showdown against the regime's people has not yet been initiated. Certain areas and certain groups are very vulnerable, and neighboring countries are more present than ever. However, the reports do not contain any conclusions, so it is up to the authorities to decide on the risk to the individual.

Many Syrians have returned home from exile in neighboring countries, but the socio-economic conditions are absolutely miserable after so many years of civil war and bombings. A large part of the country's buildings lie in ruins, and much of the infrastructure is destroyed. Water and electricity are inaccessible in many places. On top of this, Syria is currently experiencing the worst drought in decades, which means that the harvest is minimal. Follow news on Syria Direct.

What does this mean for me?

Many Syrians living in Denmark contact us and ask what will happen to their case now. The answer is the same as before: 

• If you have residence under Section 7(1), you should not worry, as the situation must be much more stable and secure before it can be withdrawn.

• If you have residence under Section 7(3) or (2) and have been put on hold, you will probably be called for an interview during this year. The original reason for asylum is gone, so the authorities will look at other possible reasons for asylum and the connection you have achieved to Denmark. In the vast majority of cases, an extension will be granted.

You are always welcome to write to us at Refugees Welcome and get individual advice: kontakt(at)refugeeswelcome.dk

The text from the news release by the Refugees Appeals Board: