Author
The Chapter: Reception Conditions in Romania contains sections on:
A. Access and forms of reception conditions
- Criteria and restrictions to access reception conditions
- Forms and levels of material reception conditions
- Reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions
- Freedom of movement
B. Housing
C. Employment and education
D. Health care
E. Special reception needs of vulnerable groups
F. Information for asylum seekers and access to reception centres
G. Differential treatment of specific nationalities in reception
Short overview of the reception system
Asylum applicants who do not have means of subsistence are entitled to reception conditions from the moment they have expressed their intention to apply for asylum until the completion of the asylum procedure and the expiry of their right to stay in Romania. Most asylum applicants are accommodated in Regional Centres for Accommodation and Procedures for Asylum applicants, managed by IGI-DAI. The management of reception is decentralised to the level of counties. Asylum applicants may also request to stay in private accommodation, but at their own expenses.
In 2024, the EUAA initiated the deployment to the Romanian national reception authorities of 71 containers for asylum and reception use, other than accommodation.[1]
In the area of reception, the EUAA identified a need in relation to enhancing information provision through the development and / or adaptation of relevant information provision materials and tools. Additionally, a need has emerged to strengthen existing mechanisms on the identification and assessment of vulnerable applicants. As part of the efforts directed at enhancing capacity in reception services, the need to establish well-defined national workflows, tools, and procedures has also been recognized, with particular emphasis on improving the identification of applicants with special reception needs for more effective vulnerability management. In addition, training and capacity-building efforts have been acknowledged as essential to equip Romanian authorities and relevant entities to manage reception processes more effectively. In response to identified gaps in quality assurance of reception, the EUAA will build on previous support provided through the ARC Tool to further enhance reception procedures, workflows, and related tools. Building on the material support provided by the EUAA in 2024 to enhance Romania’s reception capacity, including the delivery of reception units, the EUAA will continue offering material support in 2025, as requested by the General Inspectorate for Immigration (GII).[2]
[1] Information provided by the EUAA, 14 March 2025.
[2] EUAA, Evaluation Report – Operational Support to Romania 2023–2024, June 2025, available here.