Processing time of your application for international protection
According to Belgian law, the processing time of an application for international protection is six months after the case has been transferred by the Immigration Office (IO). The law also stipulates that in case of (legally) complex cases, instability in the country of origin or a large number of applications, this period can be extended to 21 months. Moreover, the legal terms are indicative. Therefore, the CGRS is not bound by a strict, predetermined time limit but must ensure that a decision is taken within a reasonable time, which depends on each individual case. The CGRS is aware of the importance for applicants to receive a decision within a reasonable period of time. Therefore, the CGRS already took several measures to ensure that a decision is taken quickly, taking into account the staff available to our organization.
The CGRS essentially processes cases according to the FIFO principle (first in, first out), with the exception of cases that require accelerated or priority processing. Categories that are processed with priority, i.e. ‘last in, first out’, are cases of unaccompanied minors, applicants in closed centres, cases of applicants that are part of the fast-track procedure, and subsequent applications.
Average and median processing time
The processing time is calculated between the date on which the case is transferred from the IO to the CGRS, and the decision taken. The CGRS is only responsible for processing the application after the IO has transferred the case and the assessment as part of the Dublin Regulation is completed. The assessment of the content of the application for international protection only starts then. In addition, a distinction is made between the average and median processing time. Indeed, the average may be distorted by extreme values, which is less the case with the median.
The average processing time in 2025 between the transfer of the case and the decision taken by the CGRS amounted to 372 calendar days. The median processing time in 2025 between the transfer of the case and the decision taken by the CGRS amounted to 286 calendar days.
An average processing time hides strongly varying values. For example, for the decisions taken in 2025, 28 % of the cases are processed by the CGRS within three months of transfer by the IO and 56% within one year of transfer by the IO.
Regarding the processing time since the date on which the application for international protection was filed, it appears that in 2025, for 44% of the cases transmitted by the Immigration Office, a decision was taken by the CGRS within a year.
If you have filed an application for international protection, your case may be processed earlier or later than the average or median processing time. This depends on your personal situation. Moreover, a protection officer with specific expertise is sometimes needed. In addition, not only the protection officer but also the (independent) interpreter must be available. The CGRS understands that the long waiting periods have an impact on you and your stay in Belgium. However, the CGRS makes every effort, with the available (personnel) resources, to keep the processing times as short as possible and process your case as quickly as possible.
Explanation of the long processing times
The influx of applications remained very high over the past year. Besides the increased caseload, external circumstances can also influence the processing time of the applications for international protection. Sometimes applicants cannot be invited to a personal interview for medical reasons. For some applicants who filed their application years ago, the IO decided that Belgium was not responsible for processing their case (so-called 26quater decision). It regularly happens that the Dublin transfer cannot happen, as a result of which the case is still transferred to the CGRS despite the earlier Dublin decision. In some of these cases, the applicant even resurfaces years after his application and the case is still transferred to the CGRS. In such cases, the processing time between application and decision can be very long without this being the responsibility of the Belgian asylum authorities.
Regarding the shortest duration: for several cases, a decision is taken on the same day or the day after the application for international protection has been filed. This includes, for example, decisions of inadmissibility of a subsequent application. Cases from the 'Fast Track Procedure' (FTP) are also processed very quickly. The FTP is a procedure aimed at taking a definitive decision more quickly for certain applications, including those from the list of “safe countries,” which have little chance of receiving protection status.
Regarding the longest duration: for several cases, it may take more than two years before the CGRS takes a decision. These are mainly complex cases in which, for example, it must be assessed whether the applicant should be excluded from an international protection status. The cases with the longest processing time are those in which the applicant is still transferred to the CGRS after a 26quater decision was taken earlier by the Immigration Office.
Measures taken
In recent years, the CGRS has taken several actions to reduce the processing time. New working methods have been tested and measures have been taken to take high-quality decisions in a more efficient manner. Further efforts were also made to strengthen the chain approach. Better information exchange and cooperation between asylum authorities is extremely important and contributes to faster processing of applications for international protection.
In 2025, the CGRS took 25,920 decisions concerning 31,457 persons.
We also remain committed to thoroughly train the staff assigned to us. The more staff we have at our disposal, the shorter the processing times will be and the less pressure will be put on reception.
In conclusion, reducing processing times is our priority, primarily in the interest of the applicant for international protection.