Immigration to Netherlands falls for third year as skilled and asylum entries decline
Immigration to the Netherlands declined for a third consecutive year in 2025. The trend is mainly driven by fewer arrivals of asylum migrants and highly skilled workers from outside the European Union, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
A total of 309,000 migrants arrived in the Netherlands in 2025, down by 8,000 from 2024, as immigration from both European Union and European Free Trade Association countries fell. On the other hand, the number of Dutch nationals returning after earlier emigration remained stable.
Just over half of all migrants in 2025 came from countries outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. Asylum migration accounted for about 11 percent of total immigration in 2025, or roughly 35,000 people, a decline of 4,000 compared with 2024. Over the past 27 years, asylum migrants have averaged about 9 percent of annual immigration. CBS said asylum flows fluctuate with global conflict and unrest.
After a peak in 2016 linked to wars in Syria, Afghanistan, and Somalia, asylum migration fell to 13,000 in 2020 before rising again from 2021. That spike was influenced by conflicts in Syria, Eritrea, and Yemen. In 2025, asylum-related migration also included family reunification cases, with that group totaling 6,300 people from outside the European Union.
Furthermore, highly skilled migration from outside the European Union fell sharply. In 2025, 14,000 relatively well-paid, specialized labor migrants arrived from outside the European Union, compared with 26,000 in 2022, meaning this category has roughly halved since that peak. CBS reported fewer highly skilled migrants from India in 2025 compared with 2024. That was accompanied by declines among nationals of India, Turkey, Russia, China, and South Africa. Other non-European Union labor migration has increased slightly in recent years.
Labor migration overall remains a significant component of inflows. In 2024, more than 61,000 migrants arrived for work, representing 19 percent of total immigration that year. Over the past 26 years, nearly one in five migrants came for work on average. About two-thirds of labor migrants in 2024 came from European Union countries.
Family migration continues to be a major channel. In 2024, 68,000 family migrants arrived, nearly one-quarter of all immigration that year. One-third of family migrants either accompanied a labor migrant or joined them later.
CBS noted that declines in highly skilled labor migration have also reduced subsequent family arrivals. Family migration also includes relatives of students and asylum migrants and depends on broader migration flows.
Student migration remains another key driver. In 2024, 38,000 people came to the Netherlands for study, accounting for 12 percent of total immigration.
The Netherlands also hosted more than 28,000 refugees from Ukraine in 2025 under the European Union’s Temporary Protection Directive, a decrease of nearly 2,000 compared with 2024.
