legal and social conditions for asylum seekers and refugees in ...

The interviews with the authority during the first instance or the appeal procedure are always
conducted with an interpreter, if necessary. In practice, the lack of qualified interpreters and the
consequent need to postpone the interviews, leads to longer processing times in many cases.
Interpretation costs at all stage of the determination procedure are covered by the MPO’s budget.
The GCR is able to provide interpreting assistance when this is needed (the interpreting services
provided by the state are not always sufficient), especially in the Athens region.
Unaccompanied minors
The police must inform the Minors’ Prosecutor of any unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, for
the latter to decide on whether a guardian should be appointed.
There are no specific provisions for the processing of asylum claims submitted by
unaccompanied minors. In practice, however, they are considered as vulnerable and their cases
are examined as a priority.
Female asylum seekers
There are no specific provisions for women. In certain cases (for instance, pregnant women) they
can be considered as vulnerable cases and have their cases examined as a priority.
Final rejection
Detention
Asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected by a final decision are given a fixed time
limit – usually three months –, during which they are requested to leave the country voluntarily.
Rejected asylum seekers may also apply for temporary residence for humanitarian reasons (See
under “Other types of residence permit” above).
Asylum seekers who apply for asylum after having been arrested by the police for an illegal stay
can be detained for the whole determination procedure, in accordance with a Ministerial Decision
of 1992. Detention usually takes place in special detention centres or police stations, although
those applicants who are subject to a judicial order of deportation are transferred to normal
prisons. There is no specific regulation for the maximum period of detention. However, there are
general limits provided by the Greek Constitution on “lawful conditions for arrest and detention”.
Illegal detention is also examined by the courts according to the constitutional provisions for the
judicial control of administrative acts.
Rejected asylum seekers may also be detained during the deportation proceedings. The
conditions of detention and judicial control are the same as for asylum seekers.
Applications from abroad
Applications for asylum in Greece may not be submitted from abroad.
Family Reunification
Only Convention refugees are entitled to reunification with their family members. Under Section 7
of the Presidential Decree No. 61/99, family members are defined as the refugee’s spouse and
single children under 18 years, as well as his/her or his/her spouse’s parents, provided that they
were living with the refugee and were supported by him/her prior to their arrival in Greece.
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Greece