ASYLUM PROCESS
IN ICELAND
Asylum and International Protection
Iceland is a member state of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention (UNHCR). The Icelandic addresses the case procedure regarding applications for international protection. The Directorate of Immigration processes the applications at the first administrative level but applications are to be submitted to the police.
Application process
Applications for asylum are submitted to the police. Applications can be submitted anywhere in Iceland. After the police have received the basic information from the applicant, including fingerprinting and asking about the travel route to Iceland and identification, the police sends the application to the Directorate of Immigration for further processing and decision.
As soon as an applicant applies for asylum with the police, an examination is made as to whether the applicant needs assistance for his/her daily needs and if so, he/she is offered service by the Directorate of Immigration or the municipalities that have entered into agreements with the Directorate of Immigration to assist asylum seekers. The applicant receives consultation and legal aid by the Icelandic Red Cross.
Legal aid by the Icelandic Red Cross
As of 25 August 2014 the Icelandic Red Cross provides service to asylum seekers, safeguarding (protecting) their rights, according to an agreement with the Ministry of the Interior. This entails the Icelandic Red Cross provides asylum seekers with consultation and safeguards their interests during case procedure by the authorities.
Service
If an asylum seeker is unable to finance his/her upkeep while the case is being processed, services and assistance are available to him/her, by the Directorate of Immigration, the Social Services of Reykjanesbær, the Reykjavík Social Services or the Social Services of Hafnarfjarðarbær.
The applicant will undergo medical examination upon arrival in Iceland in order to see if he/she suffers from any contagious decease that requires medical treatment. The asylum seeker also receives ID papers confirming his status as an asylum seeker in Iceland.
Commonly, applicants stay in rented housing together with other applicants, whereas, families are always provided with housing that suits the size of each family and its circumstances. A family will not reside with other asylum seekers.
Conclusions of decided cases by gender and age in 2018