Nigerian asylum seekers in Iceland rise steadily since 2020, data shows
Iceland has seen a sharp increase in Nigerian asylum seekers in recent years, with over 330 applications filed since 2020. According to the country’s Directorate of Immigration, a shift in travel trends, post-pandemic conditions, and tougher visa rules elsewhere are shaping the trend.
During the lockdown year of 2020, Iceland received 37 asylum claims from Nigerians. That number rose to 50 in 2021, then 67 in 2022. The highest was recorded in 2023 with 125 cases. By May 2024, another 52 applications had already been filed.
In 2020, after clearing backlogs from 2019, Iceland decided on 96 Nigerian asylum cases. Of those, 44 applicants were given residence permits, three received full refugee status, and 41 were allowed to stay temporarily on humanitarian grounds. Thirty-seven applications were rejected.
By 2021, 60 Nigerian cases had been reviewed. Only three received refugee status, while 14 were rejected after full interviews. Another 43 cases were transferred under the Dublin Regulation, which shifts responsibility for asylum claims to another European country.
Success rates for Nigerian applicants have dropped over time. As of recent counts, only about five percent have been granted full refugee protection. Many are redirected to larger EU states under existing mechanisms.
In 2022, the Directorate processed 76 Nigerian cases, issuing 22 permits, including two full refugee statuses and 20 on humanitarian grounds. Twenty-eight were rejected, while 26 were passed on to other countries.
Most Nigerians have not been granted full refugee status. Instead, they have received humanitarian leave — a temporary permit valid for one year, often renewed but not offering long-term security.
In 2023, as the UK tightened its visa policy, more Nigerians sought asylum in Iceland. However, the majority were either rejected or rerouted under Dublin rules. Of the 125 applications, just one was granted refugee status. Twenty-two received humanitarian leave. Thirteen were rejected outright, and 108 were closed without processing, mostly due to transfers to other countries.
In early 2024, the number of new Nigerian applicants dropped to 52 by May. However, the Directorate also closed 149 Nigerian cases in that same period, mostly as part of cleaning up earlier backlogs.
In February 2024, Iceland introduced a new credibility assessment system, designed to mirror Sweden’s strict asylum interview style. This change may be behind the reduced application figures in 2024.
Among West African nationals, Nigerians still top the list of asylum seekers in Iceland. However, countries like Somalia and Eritrea remain the most successful in terms of acceptance, due to older established communities and stronger protection cases.
Other African countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo contribute smaller numbers annually — often less than a dozen applicants per year.
Globally, the top countries with accepted asylum claims in Iceland include Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Eritrea, Nigeria, Russia, and Georgia. Meanwhile, the highest rejection rates go to Georgians, Russians, and Iraqis.
The Directorate of Immigration evaluates cases based on Iceland’s Foreign Nationals Act, aligned with international conventions and EU directives, including the Dublin Regulation. The agency handles about 1,500 asylum claims per year.
In November 2023, Iceland’s Ministry of Social Affairs asked for emergency funding after reaching capacity in its housing system for asylum seekers. Nigerians reportedly made up one-fifth of the new lodgers at that time.
