Author
| Name in English | Number of staff | Ministry responsible | Is there any political interference possible by the responsible Minister with the decision making in individual cases by the first instance authority? |
| General Inspectorate for Immigration – Directorate for Asylum and Integration (IGI-DAI) | 24[1]
decision-case officers |
Ministry of Internal Affairs | No |
The General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI) is a government agency operating under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This agency is responsible for overseeing the asylum process through DAI, which is responsible for decisions on asylum applications. Additionally, IGI-DAI manages the Regional Centres for Asylum Seekers, also known as reception centres, as well as specially designated closed areas within these centres. IGI-DAI may request necessary documentation from public institutions, agencies, or organizations operating in Romania to assess the applicant’s situation and make a decision, while respecting confidentiality rules. In these cases, the applicant’s consent is not required.[2]
The Head of IGI, known as the General Inspector, is appointed by the Minister of Internal Affairs.[3] The head is assisted by two Deputy General Inspectors, selected through a competitive examination organized by IGI, in accordance with the law.[4] IGI-DAI includes a director and a deputy director. These positions are filled through an exam, the reassignment from a different location or by direct designation.[5] Both the institutional structure and the IGI’s mandate are prescribed by Government Decision no. 639 of 20 June 2007.[6]
At the regional level, IGI-DAI operates six regional centres that are specifically designed for the accommodation of asylum seekers and the processing of their asylum cases. Each centre is managed by a director and a deputy director, supported by integration officers, personnel responsible for fingerprinting and photographing applicants, officers who conduct preliminary interviews, and case officers tasked with interviewing applicants and drafting decisions. Each centre also engages staff members specializing in logistics, finance, and medical services. Notably, the same case officers who oversee the regular procedures are responsible for managing border and accelerated procedures as well. Furthermore, the legal counsellors represent IGI in court for matters pertaining to asylum cases.[7]
In both 2022 and 2021, IGI-DAI had 29 case officers.[8] In 2023, the number of case officers qualified to conduct preliminary interviews increased to 39,[9] but in 2024 the number of case officers dropped to 24.[10] According to IGI-DAI, all case officers receive specific training, through the organisation of seminars, the processing of guidelines, ad-hoc meetings, monitoring visits and quality assessment.[11]
Besides, information provided in individual cases if requested. Case officers are provided information regularly through the specialised department within IGI-DAI and through the materials developed by UNHCR and the European Union Agency for Asylum.[12]
According to the IGI 2024 report, alongside its national duties IGI was also actively engaged at the European level in 2024, notably through its participation in a pilot project coordinated with the European Commission, EU agencies, and international partners. Additionally, it played a significant role in supporting Romania’s efforts to join the Schengen Area. The institution’s ability to handle migration and asylum matters was underscored by its leadership in completing the National Implementation Plan for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.[13]
EUAA involvement in decision making
Starting in May 2023,[14] competence to examine asylum applications was extended to the experts of the European Union Agency for Asylum, in accordance with article 16(2)(c) of the EUAA Regulation (EU) 2021/2303, including activities of interviewing and analysing pending asylum procedures. According to the reasoning provided by the initiator of this change, the Ministry of Internal Affairs,[15] the proposed addition takes into account the situation generated by the armed conflict in Ukraine, the increase in the presence of people displaced from Ukraine on the territory of Romania and who were registered as beneficiaries of temporary protection pursuant to the Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382 of the Council (approximately 180,000), and who can at any time request the granting of a form of international protection, either of their own volition or if they had to so following the expiration of temporary protection. In this context, it is necessary to highlight that EUAA experts are not given decision-making tasks or power: they carry out interviewing and file analysis activities, but do not directly take decisions (see further under Registration of the asylum application and Regular procedure – Personal interview).
[1] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 23 January 2025.
[2] Article 49(2) Asylum Act.
[3] Art.2(1) DECISION no. 639 of 20 June 2007 (amended) on the organizational structure and attributions of the General Inspectorate for Immigration.
[4] Law no. 360/2002 on the Status of the Police Officer, available here.
The Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs no. 140/2016 on the human resources management activity in the Ministry, the General Manager’s Order of the General Directorate of Human Resources Management no. II/1620/15.09.2015 on procedures and forms used in human resource management activity by the Ministry of Internal Affairs
[5] Law 360/2002 on the Status of the Police Officer.
[6] Government Decision No. 639 of June 20, 2007 on the organizational structure and duties of the General Inspectorate for Immigration, available in Romanian here.
[7] According to art. 5 b. 4. Government Decision No. 639 of June 20, 2007 on the organizational structure and duties of the General Inspectorate for Immigration, available in Romanian here.
[8] Information provided by IGI-DAI, on the 11 March 2022 and on 22 February 2023.
[9] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[10] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 23 January 2025. However, art. 48 (4) of the Asylum Act (as modified on 18 May 2023) provides that the interviewing and analysis of the reasons invoked may also be carried out by experts of the European Union Agency for Asylum, according to art. 16 para. (2) letter c) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2.303.
[11] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 22 February 2023.
[12] ibid.
[13] According to the Assessment of the activity of the general inspectorate for immigration in the year 2024 of the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), published in April 2025, summarizing its operations during 2024. Official source here.
[14] On 18 May 2023, article 48 of Section 1, Chapter V was supplemented by Point 4, Article I of Emergency Ordinance no. 35 of May 17, 2023, published in the Official Gazette no. 436 of May 18, 2023, available in Romanian here.
[15] Ministry of Internal Affairs, Notă de fundamentare, Ordonanță de urgență pentru modificarea și completarea unor acte normative privind domeniul străinilor și azilului în România, available in Romanian here.