Author
Stay in reception centres
Beneficiaries of international protection who participate in integration programs and have no financial means are allowed to stay in the Regional Centres, subject to availability of places.[1] They may stay in the centres for 12 months with the possibility of extension for another 6 months in case of well-founded reasons, with the approval of IGI-DAI, without exceeding the implementation period of the integration program.[2] Vulnerable categories can be accommodated until it is established the condition of vulnerability ended.
In 2022, there was a total number of 397 beneficiaries of protection accommodated in the six centres. At the beginning of 2023, there was a slight increase as there were 431 beneficiaries of international protection residing in the Regional Centres.[3]
A total of 53 beneficiaries of international protection were residing in the Regional Centres at the end of of 2024:[4]
| Centre | Total in 2024[5] |
| Timișoara | 13 |
| Şomcuta Mare | 1 |
| Rădăuţi | 1 |
| Galaţi | 15 |
| Bucharest | 18 |
| Giurgiu | 5 |
| Total | 53 |
Source: IGI-DAI, 23 January 2025.
Beneficiaries accommodated in Regional Centres have to pay rent, including maintenance costs, after 3 months.[6] This was also confirmed by the directors of Timișoara, Giurgiu and Vasile Stolnicu in the past years. The daily rental fee is different in every regional centre. Vulnerable beneficiaries may be accommodated free of charge in the Regional Centres.[7] Although the rent costs are lower compared to the situation outside the Regional Reception Centre, they are high compared to the IPB (grant aid) income. Vulnerable IPB beneficiaries live in Regional Reception Centre without paying rent.[8]
Beneficiaries of international protection who participate in integration programs and have no financial means have the right to stay in Regional Centres or in other facilities managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a general period of 12 months, which may be extended for 6 months, while for vulnerable categories this period may be further extended indefinitely.[9]
In practice, beneficiaries of international protection în Timișoara, București, Şomcuta Mare, Rădăuţi, Galaţi and Giurgiu, are allowed to stay for free, according to the amended Integration Ordinance, for up to 3 months, in comparison to 2 months as prescribed by the previous version of the Ordinance. Beneficiaries of international protection have to pay a rental fee after that period.
The rental fee to be paid by the adult beneficiaries differs from one centre to another, as follows:[10]
| Centre | Rent summer | Rent winter |
| Timișoara | 220 RON / €44 | 310 RON / €63 |
| Giurgiu | 248 RON / €50 | 387 RON / €79 |
| Şomcuta Mare | 280 RON / €57 | 431 RON / €87 |
| Galaţi | 330 RON / €67 | 480 RON/ €98. |
| Bucharest | 250 RON / € 50 | 267 RON / €54 |
| Rădăuţi | 238 RON / €49 | 295 RON/ €60 |
After this period, the rental fees may be covered by NGOs through the implemented projects, if there are AMIF funded projects. JRS and AIDRom mentioned that this is paid until the beneficiary receives the non-refundable financial aid when leaving the Regional Centres and moving to a private home is achievable. This type of support was also available in 2023; however, for some civil society actors, particularly JRS Romania, the assistance was interrupted following the end of AMIF funding in October 2023. As a result, beneficiaries of international protection no longer received this form of support due to the lack of financial resources. According to JRS Romania the situation improved in June 2024, when new AMIF-funded integration projects were launched. Under the “A New Home in Romania” program, implemented by JRS Romania, beneficiaries who enrolled in the project received assistance in leaving the reception centres, securing private accommodation, signing rental contracts, and having their rent covered for a period of 10 months. However, the program had certain limitations, as it did not cover rental guarantees or utility costs, which remained the responsibility of the beneficiaries themselves.[11] LADO/ASSOC stated that the period for which they may cover the cost of rent depends on several factors, namely: how long the beneficiary chooses to stay in the centre, how much money he/she has left according to the budget allocated by the project, as it is possible that he/she previously benefited from some medical services or the translation of some personal documents given that the money for these expenses is provided from the same budget.[12]
It should be noted that taking the amount of non-refundable aid, after paying rent, it is practically impossible to reach the level of resources necessary to maintain a minimum standard of living.[13]
Additionally, JRS Romania implemented the project “A New Home in Romania”, funded under the AMIF national program, to support beneficiaries of international protection living outside reception centres by covering their rental costs. This assistance was temporarily suspended between October 2023 and June 2024 due to a gap in AMIF funding.[14]
Social housing
According to the law, beneficiaries of international protection have the right to access the social housing scheme under the same conditions as Romanian citizens.[15]
After the integration program is completed or when a job opportunity has been identified, IGI-DAI guides the assisted person to the community where there are vacancies and informs them on how to get a social home under the conditions set in the law.[16]
Local public administration authorities have the obligation to ensure, within the limits of available resources, social housing for persons who have acquired a form of protection in Romania and who are to move to the respective community under the same conditions as the Romanian citizens, even if they have not established their domicile or residence in that area.[17]
If the local public administration authorities cannot provide a social home, the beneficiary may rent housing within the respective local community.[18] IGI-DAI subsidizes up to 50% of the rent, subject to availability of funding, for a maximum period of one year.[19] In 2022 and 2023,[20] no beneficiary accessed this aid. According to JRS Romania in 2024, no beneficiary accessed this aid.[21]
[1] Article 21(1) Integration Ordinance.
[2] ibid. Article 21(2).
[3] IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024
[4] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 23 January 2025.
[5] ibid. 23 January 2025.
[6] Article 21(5) Integration Ordinance. The rental fee is established at local level for the living facilities which are in the state’s or territorial / administrative unit’s property.
[7] ibid. Article 34(2) and (3). IGI-DAI may provide accommodation in its centres to vulnerable persons that do not require specialised assistance and who cannot benefit from a home from the institutions ability within the space and funds available. For well-founded reasons, the IGI-DAI may extend the integration program for these persons.
[8] Practice based observation by JRS Romania, April 2024.
[9] Article 21(2) Integration Ordinance.
[10] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[11] Practice observed by JRS Romania, February 2025
[12] Information provided by LADO/ASSOC, 20 February 2023
[13] Practice based observation by JRS Romania, April 2024.
[14] Practice observed by JRS Romania, February 2025
[15] Article 20(1)(q) Asylum Act.
[16] Article 28 Integration Ordinance.
[17] ibid. Article 29(1).
[18] ibid. Article 29(2).
[19] ibid. Article 29(3).
[20] Information provided by IGI-DAI, 18 January 2024.
[21] Practice based observation by JRS Romania, February 2025.