Improvement in the asylum system in Bulgaria - reduction of missing refugees

In 2024, out of a total of 18,301 asylum applications submitted in Bulgaria, 7,299 individuals terminated the process, known as "absconding" - migrants leaving official centers. This represents a decrease from 48% in 2023 to 39% in 2024. The State Agency for Refugees (SAR) examined 56 cases with granted refugee status and 4,894 cases with humanitarian protection in 2024, with an overall recognition rate of 61%, a slight decrease compared to 66% the previous year.

According to the report of the Asylum Information Database, the reduction in missing applicants is the result of improved procedures, targeted quality measures, and the limitation of abuses - including the sanctioning of corrupt registrations after the arrest of the head of the Migration Directorate-Sofia. These changes demonstrate progress in the asylum system in Bulgaria, but challenges remain, such as low recognition rates and a continuing need for more extensive integration funding.