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General information on rights, obligations and the procedure
The Asylum Act provides that the asylum seeker has the right to be informed, at the time of submission of the asylum application or later, within 15 days from the filing of the application, in a language which they understand or are reasonably supposed to understand, regarding the procedure, their rights and obligations during the asylum procedure, the consequences of non-compliance with these obligations and the lack of cooperation with the competent authorities, as well as the consequences of an explicit or implicit withdrawal of the asylum application.[1]
Competent officials are also obliged to inform asylum seekers about how they can contact non-governmental organisations and UNHCR, and how to obtain legal assistance and representation.[2]
In practice, respondents reported that there is no specifically tailored information provided to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. They are informed in the same way as adults, while they are also informed that they will have a legal representative. In general, unaccompanied children do not understand what this means. UNHCR also stated that there is a lack of accessible and adequate information materials for asylum-seeking children, child-friendly materials being an option.
The information has to be provided in writing by the official responsible for receiving the asylum application, according to a template established by order of the Director-General of IGI.[3] Where necessary for the proper understanding of the information, this may also be communicated orally at the preliminary interview.[4]
Since 2022, information materials were made available in all reception centers about rights and obligations that are provided immediately to the asylum seekers, verbally and in writing, when they are accommodated in the centre, with the support of available interpreters and by distributing leaflets/informative materials into the mother tongue. Information on the rights and obligations is also displayed in the interior of each centre in several languages (IGI-DAI[5] did not provide further details). According to CNRR the information is provided both verbally and by distributing leaflets available in languages such as English, French, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arab, Urdu, Pashto.[6] The IGI-DAI staff make an overall presentation of the information, further details are provided by the NGO staff present in each centre. [7]
The modalities of information in the different Regional Centres were: In practice, respondents reported that there is no specifically tailored information provided to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. They are informed in the same way as adults, while they are also informed that they will have a legal representative. In general, unaccompanied children do not understand what this means. UNHCR also stated that there is a lack of accessible and adequate information materials for asylum-seeking children. UNHCR has sought to address this challenge by developing child-friendly materials and making them available in reception centres.[8]
In 2024 according to CNRR, asylum seekers received a list of rights and obligations from IGI immediately upon applying for asylum. In addition to the information provided by IGI officers, CNRR counsellors distributed leaflets on the asylum procedure in multiple relevant languages. Informational videos about the asylum process were also shown in the Regional Centres. In practice, the main challenge in providing information to asylum seekers is still the language barrier. However, when it comes to legal assistance, CNRR ensures that counselling is always conducted with the help of an interpreter.[9] According to a JRS representative in Galați, in 2024 information was conveyed both orally and through leaflets by staff from NGOs involved in asylum seeker support projects, such as CNRR and the ICAR Foundation. Additionally, IGI officers provided both individual and group information sessions for the benefit of asylum seekers.[10]
Information on the Dublin procedure
IGI-DAI has the obligation to inform the asylum seeker of the content of the common leaflet drawn up by the European Commission.[11] The competent officer of IGI-DAI communicates the information contained in the common leaflet, drawn up according to Article 4(3) of the Dublin Regulation.[12] If the applicant is an unaccompanied minor, the designated officer shall provide them, in a manner appropriate to their level of understanding, with the information contained in the special information leaflet drawn up by the European Commission, complemented through additional specific information for Romania.
IGI-DAI[13] stated in 2023 that the asylum seekers receive information about the Dublin procedure and that there is available a brochure in 15 languages (no further details were provided).
According to CNRR, in 2024 a Common Information Brochure developed by the European Commission, in accordance with Article 4(3) of the Dublin Regulation, was provided to asylum seekers when they submit their application. This brochure, which includes additional details specific to Romania, is signed on the first page, with a copy retained in the applicant’s file. Additionally, a second brochure was available with information specifically adapted for unaccompanied minors, in which case the first page of this brochure is signed by a DGASPC representative, and the content must be explained to the minor in a way that aligns with their level of understanding by the official at the authority where the application was registered, as required by Article 118. A third brochure was issued when an individual is subject to the Dublin procedure. Alongside CNRR’s leaflets on the asylum process, information on the Dublin procedure was also provided in multiple relevant languages.[14]
In 2024 according to JRS Romania representatives in Galați, asylum seekers were repeatedly informed about Dublin Regulation provisions and the consequences of traveling to other EU member states. They were made aware that if they move to another EU country, they will be returned to Romania, where they initially filed their asylum application. This information was conveyed both by IGI authorities and by NGOs involved in asylum seeker support projects.[15]
[1] Article 17(1)(f) Asylum Act.
[2] Article 2(2) Asylum Decree.
[3] Article 2(1) Asylum Decree.
[4] ibid.
[5] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[6] Consiliul Național Român pentru Refugiați (CNRR), ‘Useful materials’, webpage, available here.
[7] Information provided by CNRR, 16 January 2024.
[8] Information provided by UNHCR in March 2025.
[9] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[10] Information provided by JRS representative in Galati in February 2025.
[11] Article 118 Asylum Act.
[12] ibid. Article 118(1).
[13] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[14] Information provided by CNRR in February 2025.
[15] Information provided in February 2025. Available here on CNRR website.