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National Asylum Developments Database

 

The National Asylum Developments Database presents legislative, institutional and policy developments related to asylum since 2018.

Searches can be narrowed down by:

  • Country
  • Year
  • Type of development: legislative, institutional or policy 
  • Thematic area: access to procedure, access to information, legal assistance and representation, interpretation services, special procedures, procedures at first instance, reception of applicants for international protection, detention, procedures at second instance, country of origin information, statelessness in the asylum context, content of protection, return of former applicants, resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes.

Details on each development and further analysis can be consulted in the Asylum Report series.
 

Types of policies and practices reported in the National Asylum Developments Database

The National Asylum Developments Database can be searched by institutional, legislative and policy changes. There are three types of policy developments:

Policies and practices related to the integrity of national asylum systems aim to swiftly identify unfounded asylum applications and ensure that financial, human and administrative resources are not dissipated on such claims. These measures involve efforts to rapidly establish an applicant’s identity, including age, country of origin, travel route and security concerns if any. These facts help to better assess the credibility of the applicant’s statements and determine whether beneficiaries of international protection are still in need of protection. The prevention of unintentional misuse of the asylum procedure and its integrity are also supported by the provision of information to asylum applicants and beneficiaries of international protection on their respective rights and obligations and related procedural arrangements.

Policies and practices that improve the efficiency of national asylum systems include digitalisation and the use of new technologies in the framework of asylum, prioritising or fast-tracking applications, the re-organisation of the procedure itself or implementing changes in the number of staff employed.

Policy and practice aiming to enhance the quality of national asylum systems contribute to increasing fairness, integrity and efficiency. Quality assurance systems, guidance materials and capacity-building measures typically pay off on the initial investment and efforts. The initiatives include staff training, revising existing guidance materials and monitoring the quality of the decisions delivered.

The database presents validated factual information and does not imply any endorsement from the European Commission or EUAA.

Flag Sort ascending Country Year Type of development Thematic area Development Source
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection Switzerland introduced specific policies for the vaccination of asylum applicants, specifying that vaccines are free of charge, on a voluntary basis and by registration to receive an appointment EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Policy Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The State Secretariat for Migration presented the results of the first evaluation of the law that reformed the asylum procedure in 2019. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants An amendment to the ordinance on implementation of return and expulsion of foreigners settles access rights, data security and data retention of the new information system, eRetour. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Content of protection Content of protection An amendment to the ordinance on delivering travel documents for foreigners clarified when refugees under a travel ban can still receive an exceptional authorisation to travel to a country falling under that travel ban. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Content of protection Content of protection A new financing system in the asylum sector entered into force to coordinate optimally the tasks of care, social assistance and integration support for refugees, provisionally admitted persons and persons in need of protection. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2019 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The provisions concerning the new accelerated asylum procedures entered into force on 1 March 2019, following the adoption of the new Asylum Law in September 2015, the national referendum in June 2016 and the pilot projects carried out in Zurich, Boudry and Giffers. CH LEG 01 2019
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants A number of legislative changes were adopted in the area of asylum and return, including compulsory COVID-19 tests for a person subject to a return, expulsion measure or a Dublin transfer, even against their will. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The SEM underlined that addressing the issue of violence against women would remain a priority in 2021 and the authority planned to hold information and training sessions for asylum and reception staff to raise awareness of all forms of violence against women. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An amendment to Ordinance 2 on asylum settled the funding of security costs of federal reception centres when they are temporarily closed. The confederation pays a lump sum for a year, even when the centre is closed. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection The military offered temporary support in the establishment and operation of federal reception centres, pending the arrival of newly-recruited, qualified State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) staff. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance A parliamentary initiative was adopted on the obligation to cooperate in the asylum procedure, which includes the possibility of checking an applicant’s mobile phone. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2021 Policy Content of protection Content of protection The Swiss Federal Council opened consultations on adjusting the financing of cantonal integration measures under the new Swiss Integration Agenda. EUAA Asylum Report 2022
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2020 Legislative Reception of applicants for international protection Reception of applicants for international protection An amendment to the Asylum Act entered into force, which describes the modalities and limits of video surveillance in federal reception centres. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Switzerland Flag Switzerland 2022 Policy Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs The fast-track procedure was re-introduced for nationals of certain countries of origin: countries on the list of safe countries of origin, visa-exempt countries and – because of the high number of weakly-justified claims – Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The criteria for the risk of absconding when a return decision is issued were clarified. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Applicants with special needs Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure The new Victim Support Act entered into force, which aims to further improve the availability and quality of victim support services, for example for victims of human trafficking. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance The administrative court may order an applicant's detention without the descriptive and reasoning part when it is faced with a high number of detention requests. These parts are provided to the applicant if the detention decision is contested. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure Amendments were made to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens. In a state of emergency, border guards are allowed to return persons entering in an unauthorised manner without an individual decision. Applications for international protection can be submitted only at designated locations. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance The PBGB may now publish the application number and the title of the decision on its website and do not notify the decision in another manner when the applicant's location is unknown or when there is an emergency situation. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Access to procedure icon Access to procedure The Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens was amended allowing to extend the registration time limit to 10 working days exceptionally in emergency situations. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2019 Policy Return of former applicants Return of former applicants The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board started to issue “three in one” decisions combining a negative decision on an asylum application, a return decision and a decision to impose a prohibition to entry. EASO Asylum Report 2020
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Return of former applicants Return of former applicants Compliance with a return decision issued to a minor or an adult foreigner with limited active legal capacity will be organised by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult person who is staying with the person in Estonia. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Detention Detention during the asylum procedure The Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens was amended to include the conditions and timeframes for detaining applicants in an emergency situation caused by mass arrivals. EASO Asylum Report 2021
Estonia Flag Estonia 2022 Legislative Special procedures to assess protection needs Special procedures to assess protection needs Ukraine was removed from the list of safe countries of origin. EUAA Asylum Report 2023
Estonia Flag Estonia 2020 Legislative Processing asylum applications at first instance Processing asylum applications at first instance Amendments to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens clarified that the rejection decision includes a return decision and a prohibition on entry for 3 years. EASO Asylum Report 2021