Author
| Detention capacity and occupancy: 2025 | ||
| Detention centre | Capacity | Occupancy at end 2025 |
| Bělá-Jezová | 200 | N/A |
| Bálková | 174 | N/A |
| Vyšní Lhoty | 450 | N/A |
| Total | 824 | N/A |
Source: Information provided by the RFA upon OPU’s request.
Asylum seekers are typically detained in specialized facilities, called ‘facilities for the detention of foreigners’ (zařízení pro zajištění cizinců – ZZC). In these facilities, they are detained with other third country nationals. The Asylum Act also allows asylum seekers to be detained in a reception facility.[1] However, this option is, to OPU’s knowledge, rarely used.
When a person is intercepted as irregularly staying or transiting through the territory, they can be detained for 48 hours in a police cell.[2] This is usually the case for individuals transiting Czech territory who have an active EURODAC hit in another EU Member State, and the police prepare to issue them a subsequent detention order for the purpose of their Dublin transfer.[3]
To OPU’s knowledge, asylum seekers are never detained with ordinary prisoners. However, there could be cases where a person arrived with falsified documents at the border, was prevented from lodging their asylum application and put in an ordinary prison in the context of a criminal procedure.
Asylum seekers are regularly detained at the Václav Havel international airport.
[1] Section 46a(1) of the Asylum Act.
[2] Section 27 of the Act no. 273/2008 Coll., Police Act.
[3] Section 129 of the Immigration Act.