Author
The Reception Act requires Fedasil to provide the asylum applicant with an information brochure on the rights and obligations of the asylum applicants as well as on the competent authorities and organisations that can provide medical, social and legal assistance, in a language they understand (see section on Information to Asylum Applicants and Access to NGOs and UNHCR).[1] The brochure ‘Asylum in Belgium’ currently distributed is available in ten different languages[2] and in a DVD version. These brochures are being distributed in the reception facilities.
As for the specific rights and obligations concerning reception conditions, the asylum applicant also receives a copy of the house rules available in different languages. According to the Reception Act this should be a general document applicable in all reception facilities and regulated by Royal Decree.[3] In 2018 a Royal decree and a Ministerial Decree were published to this end. (See Sanctions for violation of house rules).
This written information, although handed over to every asylum applicant, is not always adequate or sufficient in practice, since some asylum applicants need to have it communicated to them orally in person or have it repeated several times, inter alia due to the fact that some asylum applicants are illiterate. Fedasil launched an AMIF-founded project (‘Amica’) in collaboration with some universities, in the context of which 3 videos about the ‘Day 0’ (day of registration of the asylum application and first access to the reception network in the arrival centre) were developed that were made available on the Fedasil website in the course of 2022. The website is accessible via QR-codes displayed in and around the arrival centre. Audio-tours in 14 different languages are available in the arrival centre, providing information about this ‘Day 0’.[4]
Fedasil also has a website ‘Fedasilinfo’, which contains information about the asylum procedure, housing, life in Belgium, return, work, unaccompanied minors, health care and education in 14 different languages.[5]
For applicants staying outside of the reception network, Fedasil has a physically accessible ‘Infopunt’ in Brussels, offering information in several language 4 days a week.[6]
Impact of the reception crisis (2021 – 2025)
Single male applicants for international protection who do not receive shelter, do not receive the above information. The Immigration Office informs them about the waiting list with a general information leaflet about the shortage of places.[7] This leaflet contains a QR-code that directs applicants to the waiting list.
[1] Article 14 Reception Act.
[2] Dutch, French, English, Albanian, Russian, Arabic, Pashtu, Farsi, Peul and Lingala, available on the website of Fedasil and of the CGRS. English version available here.
[3] Article 19 Reception Act.
[4] Myria, ‘Contact meeting’, 19 January 2022, p. 62 available in French and Dutch at: https://bit.ly/3sy9SFN.
[5] Fedasilinfo, Available here.
[6] Fedasil, ‘The Fedasil Infopoint is one year old’, 1 October 2024, available here.
[7] Myria, ‘Contact meeting’, 21 September 2023, p. 12, available in French and Dutch at: https://bit.ly/3Za40zZ.