Author
Outside of the border zone, asylum seekers have freedom of movement within the State. In specific cases, the MoI can decide to confine applicants to the in-land reception centre for the duration of their procedure.
At the airport transit zone, asylum seekers do not have freedom of movement within the State. Applicants undergo a special procedure in which a decision is issued within 5 days to assess whether the entrance to the territory is permitted or not (see Border procedure). If the decision is positive, they will have freedom of movement. If it is negative, they will be detained at the airport reception centre.
No scheme of allocations of asylum seekers in regions or facilities exists. There are 4 accommodation centres in Czechia available and the applicants are housed there as per the ad hoc capacity in each of them. If need be, asylum seekers can petition the RFA and they can help relocate them to another facility. These requests are sometimes granted, but it is up to the discretion of the RFA.
Certain material conditions are solely subject to persons residing at the accommodation centres:[1] persons residing in those centres (i.e., those who cannot afford living in private housing) are provided with housing, meals, hygienic supplies, and pocket money. If the accommodation centre does not provide meals, asylum seekers truly residing in those centres receive a financial allowance for meals. People who are only formally registered in an accommodation centre but stay elsewhere for some days during the month are not entitled to financial support for those days. Access to health care and school for children is provided to all asylum seekers.
If someone leaves their open accommodation centre without an official permit, this can lead to the discontinuation of their procedure, formally labelling them as of ‘unknown residence’. Closed centres (i.e., airport reception centre or detention centres) cannot be abandoned by applicants.
In practice, asylum seekers can be moved from one centre to another. It depends on the discretion of the RFA. Short written reasons are provided to the applicant, but no appeal is available.
It is possible to limit the stay of an applicant for international protection in the territory to only part of the territory. [2] However, in practice this only happens during the border procedure where applicants are confined to staying at the closed airport reception centre (see Border procedure).
[1] Section 42 of the Asylum Act.
[2] Section 3d(1) of the Asylum Act.