Author
Asylum seekers 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.[1] In 2023, legislative amendments were made to Law No. 122/2006, Article 17, paragraph (1), letter b, which provides for the right to remain in Romania until the asylum procedure is completed. Accelerated and border procedures are concluded from the date of delivery of the court’s decision if an appeal has been lodged, or from the expiration of the deadline for filing the appeal.[2] In the Dublin procedure the right to remain on the territory of Romania ceases on the date of the transfer.[3]
Subsequent applicants do not have the right to access material reception conditions.[4]
At the time of submission of an application for material reception conditions and whenever necessary, IGI-DAI shall analyse the provision of material reception conditions on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the material and financial means possessed by the applicant.[5] If IGI-DAI finds that the applicant has the means to ensure an adequate standard of living and can contribute to the costs of material reception conditions and health care, it may suspend the granting of material reception conditions and may require reimbursement and impose future contribution to those costs.[6]
According to the law, applicants are entitled to reception conditions from the moment they express the intention to seek asylum. In the past, there have been reports of cases in which access to accommodation was only granted at the moment of registration of the asylum claim.
In 2022-2023, a mono-parental family was hosted in Somaschi Foundation. From February 2023, JRS helped them with the rent costs through the AMIF project, financed by IGI.[7] No new cases were reported in 2024.
Since 9 March 2022, when the Romanian government lifted all COVID-19 restrictions, there have been no restrictions or measures imposed in the regional centres, according to the directors of the centres.
By 16 February 2023, at the ITPF Timișoara there were four shipping containers where asylum seekers were accommodated, and two mobile toilets placed in the inner courtyard of the institution. One of these containers was presented to the author. It had eight bunk beds, without mattresses and a broken fan heater. The representatives of ITPF stated that the mattresses were taken out for cleaning. They also declared that these containers had not been used since December 2022; they are only used when there is a group of 10-20 people waiting for their interview and registration process. In the first trimester of 2022, ITPF Timișoara had to process groups of 10-12 persons. In 2024, the containers were used as offices by Frontex and EUAA in Timisoara Reception Centre and the main pavilion building is used for accommodating asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection.[8]
Asylum seekers transferred from Timișoara received the financial allowance prior to transfer only if they had stayed in the centre for a longer period. Those who were transferred within a matter of days were scheduled to receive the financial support at the destination reception centre. Those who were transferred soon after their arrival, they were only fingerprinted in Timisoara reception centre. The financial allowance is provided twice per month on the first and 15 of the month. Therefore, asylum seekers present in the centre at these dates received the financial allowance.[9]
According to JRS, in 2024 asylum seekers were usually penalized by warnings or financially for violating the regulations within the CRPCSA Galati, by reducing the amount received as material aid from the IGI (e.g. They were not paid for the days when they refused to contribute to the cleaning of the centre). If the asylum seeker’s behaviour was particularly serious or a repetition of the violation of the rules was found, temporary or permanent eviction from the centre may have been applied as sanction. For unexcused absence from the centre, eviction was applied as well.[10]
[1] Article 56(6) Asylum Decree.
[2] Article 17(7) Asylum Act.
[3] ibid. Article 17(1)(a).
[4] ibid. Article 88^1.
[5] Article 55(8) Asylum Decree.
[6] ibid.
[7] Experience of JRS Romania, April 2024.
[8] Information from JRS Romania provided in July 2025.
[9] ibid.
[10] Information provided in February 2025.