Overview of the main changes since the previous report update

Author

JRS Romania

The previous update was published in July 2024.

International protection

Asylum procedure

• Key statistics: In 2024 the number of asylum applications submitted in Romania significantly dropped compared to 2023: 10,346 applications were submitted in 2023, compared to only 2,467 in 2024.^[1] The profile of asylum applicants also changed. In 2023, Bangladesh was the main nationality present in the asylum system (with 2,821 applications), whereas in 2024 Syrians (759) and Iraqis (232) were the first nationalities of asylum applicants; Bangladesh was 4th in 2024, with only 126 claims. The number of children reaching the country also dropped, going from 933 in 2023 (of whom 159 were unaccompanied) to 348 (157 UAM) in 2024.
• Legal reform: In 2024, the Asylum Act (Law No. 122/2006) was amended to enhance coherence and align more effectively with evolving EU asylum and return standards, with its latest version published on 8 March 2024. The Aliens Ordinance (OUG 194/2002) was re-published in July 2024 with updated provisions. These reflect Romania’s alignment with evolving EU asylum and return standards. A revised Resettlement Decision in February 2024 established a new relocation quota for 2024–2025. The number of case officers in IGI-DAI decreased from 39 in 2023 to 24 in 2024, despite Romania’s participation in key EU pilot projects. Romania submitted its National Implementation Plan for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum in December 2024, with formal approval by Memorandum in January 2025.
• Borders: In 2024, a substantial decrease in the number of recorded crossings was registered at Romania’s border with Serbia. While other countries along the Western Balkan route experienced rising arrivals, Romanian authorities observed a 67% drop in the number of persons prevented from entering the country via the Serbian border – falling from 803 in 2023 to just 259 in 2024. This decrease might be the result of coordinated actions with Serbian authorities, intensified surveillance operations, as well as of overall changes in the migration route crossing the Western Balkans. The Romanian Border Police refers to have increased border surveillance, and reinforced joint patrols. Additionally, the number of individuals readmitted to Serbia under the EU–Serbia Readmission Agreement fell to fewer than 40 persons, compared to 214 in 2023.

• Interpretation: In 2024, interpretation services continued to be provided, including through videoconference systems, especially for rare languages. While the number of complaints regarding interpretation quality slightly decreased, some asylum seekers still reported difficulties in understanding proceedings via video links, describing the process as impersonal. According to CNRR, certain Regional Centers lacked interpreters for key languages such as Amharic, Somali, or Kurdish Sorani, resulting in delays in the processing and examination of cases. The problem was more acute at the second instance level, where certified interpreters are required, although in practice, trusted individuals are occasionally used instead. Authorities allow applicants to request interpreters of a specific gender, and interpretation services are frequently ensured in cooperation with NGOs. Child protection authorities do not have dedicated interpreters and rely entirely on NGO support for language assistance.

• Dublin procedure: In 2024, Dublin transfers to Bulgaria were re-established, marking the resumption of returns under the Dublin Regulation. A total of four transfers to Bulgaria were carried out throughout the year.

• Accelerated procedure: In 2024, 22.5% of asylum applications (556 out of 2,467) were processed under the accelerated procedure — a lower percentage compared to 2023, when 38.5% (3,988 out of 10,346) of applications were handled in the same manner, according to IGI-DAI.

• Legal representation of unaccompanied minors: In 2024, the number of trainings was limited, largely due to a funding gap of at least six months in the availability of AMIF support.

Reception conditions

• Reception conditions: The accommodation capacity was expanded, with 540 new reception places introduced in 2024 (240 in Arad and 300 in Galati). Some of the centres were refurbished.
• Transfers of asylum seekers between regional centres: In 2024, transfers between reception centres continued, with a particular focus on relocating vulnerable cases from the Bucharest Reception Centre to the one in Galați, due to renovation works taking place in Bucharest.
• Access to the labour market: In 2024, access to the labour market for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection became even more difficult – not only due to persistent language barriers and limited qualifications, but likely also influenced by stronger anti-migrant discourse at the national and European level.

Detention of asylum seekers

• Detention of vulnerable applicants: In 2024, the Romanian National Council for Refugees (CNRR) reported no cases of vulnerable persons being placed in public custody.
• Reception conditions in detention: In 2024, the Arad detention centre’s capacity increased to 400 places with the addition of a new EU-funded wing offering improved material conditions, including air conditioning, gender-separated rooms, and recreational areas. In 2024, poor conditions persisted in parts of the Otopeni detention centre, including lack of access to outdoor spaces, worn-out walls, and outdated tiling.

Content of international protection

• Integration program: In 2024, following a 6–7-month funding gap, NGO-implemented integration projects resumed. This temporary interruption had affected the availability of key services for beneficiaries of international protection.
• Travel documents: In 2024, according to the General Inspectorate for Immigration (IGI), all individuals who requested travel documents successfully received them.
• Cessation of protection status: In 2024, IGI-DAI issued 53 cessation decisions – 27 for refugee status and 26 for subsidiary protection – primarily affecting nationals from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine. This marks a decrease from 84 decisions recorded in 2023
• Family reunification: In 2024, a total of 295 applications for family reunification were submitted, up from 245 in 2023, but only 96 were approved, marking a significant drop in approval rates. The average waiting time remained between 6 and 9 months.
• Access to the labour market: In 2024, beneficiaries of international protection in Romania continued to face major obstacles in accessing the labour market, including language barriers, lack of study documents, and social stigma. They remained mainly employed in low-paid jobs in hospitality and construction. Despite existing legal access, distrust from society and exploitative labour practices persist, as noted by JRS and CNRR.
• Access to healthcare: In 2024, one of the key difficulties faced by beneficiaries of international protection was finding a family doctor willing to register them, even when they had valid health insurance. This issue, alongside persistent language barriers, long delays in accessing specialist care, and limited knowledge of the healthcare system, continues to hinder access to adequate medical services.

Temporary protection

The information given hereafter constitute a short summary of the 2024 Report on Temporary Protection, for further information, see Annex on Temporary Protection.

Temporary protection procedure

• Key temporary protection statistics: Romania continued to host a significant number of Ukrainian nationals in 2024, with 179,737 temporary protection holders registered in the country by the end of the year. Bucharest issued 31% of the total number of TP permits at the national level, while top five counties represented almost 70% of the issuance offices throughout the country.^[2]
• Unaccompanied and separated children: In 2024, 1,674 temporary protection permits were issued to unaccompanied and separated children.

Content of temporary protection

• Changes to the housing support program: In 2024, the government overhauled its housing assistance for Ukrainian refugees. The former “50/20” daily allowance scheme was replaced by a new mechanism offering 2,000 RON per month per family (750 RON for single persons) for accommodation and 600 RON per person per month for food, generally provided up to four months. Emergency Ordinance No. 96/2024 extended this support into mid-2024 and tied continued aid to refugees’ employment or school enrolment.
• Employment: In 2024, Romania introduced a dedicated procedure to facilitate the employment of Ukrainian refugees (Order No. 1,938 of 30 July 2024). Nevertheless, many refugees continued to face challenges entering the labour market due to language barriers and limited childcare options, underscoring the need for Romanian language courses and better support for single parents seeking work.
• Access to education: Access to education for children from Ukraine remained a priority in 2024. By mid-2024, 97.44% of Ukrainian minors under temporary protection (48,767 children) were enrolled in Romanian preschools or schools. Additionally, Romania ratified an agreement with Ukraine on mutual recognition of educational documents (Law No. 23/2024) and established a special commission to help assign refugee pupils to schools and provide them with counselling support.
• Child financial aid: In 2024, authorities ensured that Ukrainian families who obtained temporary protection before 1 July 2024 became eligible for the standard child allowance and other social benefits on par with Romanian citizens. Those receiving protection after that date were instead provided a one-time financial support for four months before transitioning to the regular benefit system.

• Access to basic benefits: In 2024, beneficiaries of temporary protection in Romania continued to face obstacles in accessing financial and in-kind assistance. Although state-funded accommodation and food support remained available, the restructuring of the housing support program led to reduced coverage and delays in implementation. Moreover, assistance provided by NGOs also declined, largely due to cuts in international funding and GAPS in AMIF funds, further limiting support for vulnerable individuals.

^[1]          Eurostat, Asylum applications – annual statistics (data extracted 14 March 2025), available here.

^[2]          UNHCR Data Portal available here.