Author
The CRM is mandated to provide material reception conditions to asylum seekers and persons granted asylum in Serbia.[1]
In the course of the asylum procedure, asylum seekers are entitled to be accommodated in one of the 7 Asylum Centres or other designated facility established for that purpose,[2] which consist of 12 Reception Centres.
Persons issued with a registration certificate by the MoI are expected to present themselves at the reception facility indicated in the certificate (the name of the facility is introduced in the registration certificate) from where they can lodge their asylum application. The CRM shall confirm reception of the applicant with a mention to that end in the registration certificate.[3]
It can be said with certainty that 111 foreign nationals lodged asylum application with the assistance of IDEAS.[4]
As already outlined, the majority of reception centres accommodate foreigners who were not issued registration certificates, and who do not enjoy any other status in line with the Foreigners Act or other legislation. For that reason, they can be subject to different arbitrary practices such as denial of access to the reception centre during the night or denial of access to food or even medical care. In practice, almost every foreigner has the possibility to be accommodated in one of the reception facilities.
If the asylum seeker has the financial means to do so, they may stay outside the reception facilities bearing the cost of accommodation, and exclusively upon prior consent of the Asylum Office, which shall be given after the asylum application has been lodged. The current legal framework does not contain any provision on the obligation of asylum seekers to disclose their resources to the asylum authorities. Exceptionally, consent may also be given beforehand, if that is required for reasons of security of a foreigner whose intention to seek asylum has been registered.[5] Thus, in practice, the asylum seeker usually has to wait to lodge an asylum application and then submit the request to stay at a private address, which will be included in their ID card as their place of residence.
[1] Article 23 Asylum Act; Chapters II and III Migration Management Act.
[2] Article 51(1) Asylum Act.
[3] Article 35(12) Asylum Act.
[4] Information obtained through the field work of IDEAS legal officers.
[5] Article 50(8) Asylum Act.