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Overall conditions
There are two types of reception facilities: reception centres and accommodation centres.
Reception Centres serve to accommodate newly arrived applicants for international protection until the completion of basic initial procedures (identity verification, submission of the international protection application, medical examination). Accommodation, meals, basic hygiene items, medical care, social and psychological services, and leisure activities are provided. Until the prescribed medical examinations are completed, applicants are not allowed to leave the facility freely (i.e., for the first days it operates under a detention regime).
The RFA operates a reception centre in the transit area of Václav Havel International Airport in Prague (at the external Schengen border) and a reception centre in Zastávka,[1] which is a small town near Brno (second largest city in Czechia). From 2018 Zastávka has also worked as a residential centre for some of the asylum seekers. Usually asylum seekers with disabilities are accommodated here for the entire procedure, as other residential centres are not adapted for persons with disabilities.
After completing the initial procedures at a reception centre, those applicants who cannot arrange accommodation on their own may use accommodation in one of the residential centres until their international protection application is processed. Residents can leave the centre, receive financial allowances, and prepare their own meals. Social workers are available, and applicants can participate in leisure activities, voluntary Czech language courses, and receive legal and psychological assistance. Besides Zastávka, there are three residential centres: in Kostelec nad Orlicí, Havířov and Bělá pod Bezdězem.
In the reception/accommodation centre in Zastávka the applicants are accommodated in shared rooms, and shared bathrooms are available for multiple rooms. There is a dining room where applicants receive meals three times a day. There is also a choice of meat-free meals. Applicants are given pocket money for small expenses – 30 CZK (approx. 1.2 EUR) a day.[2]
In other accommodation centres no food is provided and applicants are given a subsistent allowance instead – currently 4,860 CZK (approx. € 200) a month for each individual. Half of this sum of money is being paid once in two weeks. There are shared kitchens where applicants can prepare their own meals. Residential centres in Havířov and Kostelec nad Orlicí are in smaller towns but with good accessibility to larger cities. The residential centre in Belá Jezová is located in a remote area, in the middle of the forest, with the nearest village being 4 km away. This facility served only as a detention centre before, so accessibility was not an issue. Since 2019, part of the facility is a detention centre and the other part serves as a residential centre. Its remote location makes it difficult for applicants to access public transport, local services, shops, and cultural or social activities outside the centre.
If applicants have enough money, they have to pay 130 CZK (approx. € 5.4) a night for the accommodation in the centre. If meals are provided in the centre, they have to pay an additional 112 CZK (approx. € 4.6) a day.
In general, there are no reports of overcrowding as the capacities of reception and accommodation centres are not full.
In most of the facilities, usually four people share one room. If the current capacity allows so, people are accommodated on their own. Facilities are equipped with shared sanitary and hygiene facilities, which are maintained and cleaned regularly according to operational standards, although precise schedules are not published. In residential centres where meals are not provided (Kostelec nad Orlicí and Havířov) there are shared kitchen facilities, allowing asylum seekers to cook for themselves. In Havířov residential centre two rooms share a bathroom and a kitchen. This facility is mostly used to accommodate families with children so that each family can have the whole ‘appartement’ for themselves.
In those facilities where meals are served, there are normally three options: meal with meat, meal without pork and vegetarian meal. Basic medically prescribed diets (such as diabetic, easily digestible, low-protein or gluten-free diets) can be accommodated. If a very specific diet is required, RFA aims to transfer the person as soon as possible to a facility with individual catering arrangements.
OPU does not have any information about any incidents related to reception conditions in the centres.
Activities in the centres
Asylum seekers in the Czech Republic have access to various activities and leisure opportunities within reception and residential centres. Facilities typically provide social, cultural, and educational activities, including workshops, recreational programs, and access to communal spaces. Centres offer children’s centres, art workshops, libraries, tea rooms, playgrounds, sports equipment, and residents can participate in cultural events and excursions.
Asylum seekers are generally allowed to leave the facilities freely or make use of private accommodation. Services provided in residential centres are similar to those in reception centres.
The number of staff working in reception centres appears generally sufficient for carrying out day‑to‑day responsibilities, and staff are subject to training programmes as part of RFA’s operational reporting and human resources practices.
Religious arrangements are available in reception and accommodation centres of the RFA.
Length of stay
The average length of stay of asylum seekers in the reception centres is not available, as many residents of the centres are officially registered there but live most of their time outside of the centres. Many asylum seekers are also registered at private addresses.
The length of stay usually depends on the length of the asylum procedure. Applicants are allowed to stay in the centre during the first and second instance procedure. If they file a cassation complaint against the negative decision of the regional court, the possibility of accommodation is not automatic during the time of the appeal, as they will not be considered to be applicants for the international protection anymore and, therefore, will only be allowed to stay in the centre with an agreement of the RFA. In practice, the RFA usually allows the stay of families with small children or vulnerable individuals.
Regarding the accommodation of those that have lodged a subsequent application, the same conditions apply, so accommodation is provided during the first and second instance procedure, either until the final decision of the Regional Court or until the latter rejects the interim request for suspensive effect.
[1] Photos of the facility are available here.
[2] Decree No. 376/2005.