One of the key events of 2022 in terms of immigration and asylum was, of course, the start of the war in Ukraine on 24 February. Hundreds of thousands of refugees fled after the invasion by Russia, and in response to the massive influx of displaced persons, the Council of the European Union triggered the temporary protection mechanism for people who have fled the war in Ukraine in early March.

Since then, no less than 5,397 applications for temporary protection have been submitted to the Immigration Directorate in Luxembourg (5,039 by Ukrainians). It has been granted to 5,087 people, more than 94% of all cases.

“Like beneficiaries of international protection [known as BPI in Luxembourg], beneficiaries of temporary protection have free access to the Luxembourg labour market without the need for a specific authorisation, for the entire duration of the validity of their attestation. They can also register as jobseekers with Adem, and their children have immediate access to the school system,” explained  (LSAP) during the presentation of the 2022 balance sheet on immigration and asylum policy in Luxembourg.

Half of requests come from Syria

But it is not only the war in Ukraine that has had an impact on immigration and asylum in the country. Various world crises and the end of health restrictions linked to covid-19 are also to be taken into account. In 2022, 2,269 people applied for international protection in Luxembourg, compared to 1,250 in 2021--a dynamic observed in all EU member states. This figure is even higher than in 2019, where it reached 2,052.

The people who have applied for international protection in Luxembourg over the past twelve months are mainly from Syria, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Turkey and Venezuela. Almost 50% of the applications were made by Syrian nationals, “a new phenomenon whereas in previous years the ratio was not as high,” confirms Asselborn. As for applications for international protection processed during the year 2022, 1,123 out of the 1,914 closed cases resulted in an agreement.

200% increase in unaccompanied minor applicants

Another phenomenon is the arrival in number of unaccompanied minors: 110 of them applied for international protection in 2022. To this must be added the 54 unaccompanied minors who have submitted an application in Luxembourg and who are awaiting the appointment of an ad hoc administrator by the family court. A total of 160 unaccompanied minors have arrived in Luxembourg, which represents an increase of 200% compared to previous years.

At the end of December 2022, the National Office for Reception (ONA) had accommodated 4,581 people in the entire accommodation network catering to applicants for international protection. The accommodation network consisted of 53 temporary accommodation facilities (SHTDPI), two first arrival shelters (CPA) and one temporary shelters (CAP) with a total of 4,214 beds in the SHTDPI, 580 beds in the CPA and 332 beds in the temporary shelter in Mersch as of 31 December 2022. In 21 of these facilities, people are looked after on site by the ONA, in 18 others by the Luxembourg Red Cross and in 16 facilities by Caritas Luxembourg.

21% of IPRs are family reunifications

In 2022, the number of new arrivals in the ONA accommodation network for applicants for international protection increased by 57.1% compared to the previous year. A total of 3,352 new arrivals were recorded in 2022, an average of 279.3 arrivals per month, well above the average of 177.8 arrivals per month recorded in 2021. A large proportion of the new arrivals in the ONA network include people who came to Luxembourg in the context of family reunification.

494 people arrived in Luxembourg as part of a family reunification--i.e., 21% of the applications for international protection submitted--and subsequently submitted an application for international protection. And 3,011 temporary residence permits were issued in the context of family reunification of third country nationals. This is an increase compared to 2021 with 2,606 temporary residence permits, and also compared to 2020 with 1,779 permits, and 2019 with 2,289 permits.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.