Germany Faces Rising Temporary Tolerated Stay Numbers and Political Backlash

The number of migrants living in Germany under temporary tolerated status rose again after several years of decline, reaching 200,601 at the end of September, according to government figures cited in a report published by Remix News [1].

More than 256,000 people were obliged to leave the country at the same point, with the large majority unable to be deported for practical or legal reasons, the report stated [1]. People with a “Duldung” hold a formal suspension of deportation, according to the report. They remain obliged to leave Germany but cannot currently be removed, for example because of missing travel documents, family ties, illness or other obstacles, officials said.

The figures cover people whose asylum claims have been rejected but who cannot be returned to their countries of origin, a category that German authorities track separately from recognized refugees and from asylum seekers whose cases are still pending. According to the report, the count had been falling for several years before the most recent increase [1].

What tolerated status means

A Duldung is a formal suspension of deportation rather than a residence permit, according to the report [2]. Recipients remain obliged to leave Germany but cannot currently be removed for reasons that include missing travel documents, family ties, illness or other obstacles, the report stated. The status is always temporary and can be extended, officials said.

The distinction matters because tolerated status does not grant a right to remain. The report describes tolerated status as a suspension rather than a residence permit, and the count of tolerated cases is reported alongside the broader number of people obliged to leave the country [1].

Because the status is granted and renewed by local foreigners’ authorities rather than by a single federal body, the number of tolerated cases reflects administrative practice in municipalities as well as national policy.

Figures and recent trend

By the end of 2022, the figure was about 248,000, the report stated, indicating that the count fell over the intervening period before rising again.

Only 402 people were recorded with a training-related tolerated status and 17 with an employment-related one, according to Welt newspaper, as cited in the report. The small number of employment-related cases indicates that most people in tolerated status are not recorded in work-related categories.

That law created a pathway for some long-term residents with tolerated status to obtain more secure residence. The most recent count reverses the previous downward trend, according to the figures.

Why the number rose after an earlier decline

That pathway has now expired for many, the report stated, meaning that people who might previously have moved out of tolerated status have remained in it.

When fewer asylum claims are recognized, more rejected applicants can end up in the tolerated category if they cannot be removed.

Political reaction and fiscal context

Alexander Throm, spokesman for interior policy with the German Christian Democratic Union party,  criticized the share of tolerated cases. Throm also said: “It is too easy to just stay here. The issuance of tolerated status by local foreigners’ authorities must be made significantly more difficult.”

After 36 months, these benefits can approach levels closer to regular social assistance under certain conditions, the report stated. Gross expenditures under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act across Germany totaled about €6.16 billion in 2025, down from €6.72 billion the previous year, according to the figures cited in the report.

Conclusion

The count had stood at 190,974 of 232,067 people obliged to leave at the end of 2025, and at about 248,000 at the end of 2022, the report stated. Officials and political figures cited in the report link the issue to deportation obstacles, administrative practice, and public spending under the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. The status remains temporary and extendable, according to the report.

Reference

1. Number of tolerated migrants in Germany rises to over 200,000. https://rmx.news/article/number-of-tolerated-migrants-in-germany-rises-to-over-200000/

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