News item | 01-06-2026 | 5:00 PM
Due to the fragile security situation in Lebanon, Minister Bart van den Brink (Asylum and Migration) is introducing a decision and departure moratorium for the country. The minister writes this in a letter to the House of Representatives. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will initially apply for a period of 6 months. This means that no decisions will be made on Lebanese asylum applications during this period. No persons will be returned to Lebanon either.
Imposing a moratorium is a policy instrument that is used when there is uncertainty about the security situation in a country of origin. As a result, careful decisions cannot be made on asylum applications from aliens from that country and forced deportations to that country cannot be carried out.
Exceptions for security and Dublin claimants
The moratorium does not apply unconditionally to all persons from Lebanon. To ensure safety in the Netherlands, war criminals and perpetrators of serious crimes remain excluded from the operation of the moratorium.
In addition, the IND continues to make decisions in files where another European country is responsible for the asylum application (so-called Dublin cases).
Even if an asylum application has been pending for longer than 21 months and the maximum period of the decision moratorium has expired, the IND will assess the application based on the specific facts and circumstances of that file and the most current country information at that time.
In 2025 and 2026 (until March 30), 100 people from Lebanon submitted a first asylum application. Since the lifting of the previous moratorium in May 2025, the Return & Departure Service has not carried out any forced departure to Lebanon.
Duration and sequel
The moratorium has been imposed for a period of 6 months. The situation is being closely monitored. If the situation so requires, this period can be extended once by another 6 months or withdrawn in the meantime.
