It will probably take until 2021 before the immigration service IND can process asylum requests within the legal time frame, junior justice minister Mark Harbers told MPs on Thursday.

Last year, 5,500 more asylum requests were made than had been forecast and this, combined with government spending cuts, has boosted waiting times again, the minister said.

The IND is supposed to rule if an asylum seeker should be given a refugee permit within six months, although this can be extended for complex cases.

Last year the IND took on an extra 200 members of staff to cut the waiting lists, and a further 150 people are being employed this year, Harbers said.