Illegal Entries into Germany Fall on Border Controls

The German Federal Police recorded 3,587 unauthorized entries without valid documents in August, the lowest number in more than five years, according to the daily newspaper Welt. Compared with July, this represents a 14% decrease, and compared with August 2025, a 39% decrease.

In the first eight months of this year, police recorded a total of 32,606 unauthorized entries at land, air and sea borders, 24% fewer than in the same period last year. One reason for the decline is the increased number of entry denials directly at the borders.

Since September 2024, Germany has been conducting border controls with all neighboring countries. After the new coalition government took office last May, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt ordered an increase in the number of refusals of entry. Since then, 43,438 people have been turned back at the borders, and another 2,203 have been prevented from crossing due to re-entry bans.

The statistics do not include unrecorded border crossings, such as those via dirt roads, meaning the number of asylum seekers may be higher.

In the first half of the year, 39,646 people applied for asylum for the first time, also fewer than in previous years. However, this figure also includes people who entered the country legally, such as on tourist visas.

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