The asylum procedure for children
As a child, your asylum procedure may be different.
There are special steps to make sure you are safe and get the support you need. Your representative will be with you and help you during the process.
On this page, you will learn what happens after you apply for asylum and what the authorities will check.
You asked for asylum, what will happen now?
You will meet different officials, such as the staff of the asylum authorities. They will ask you questions about you and your journey to Europe. Remember, the officials are here to protect you and to decide what is best for you. You can always share with the officials what you think, what you need and how you feel. Your representative will be with you during the procedure.
What you say to your representative or to the officials will remain confidential. This means that the information you give to them will never be shared with the government of your home country nor with the people that you fear.
All officers must treat you with respect. If they don’t, you can make a complaint.
A complaint is when you tell someone that you are unhappy about the way you were treated or a service you received, or a service you should have received but didn’t. You have the right to complain about bad treatment. If you are unsure about what is acceptable and what is not, ask a trusted officer, a lawyer present or your representative for advice.
What do you need to know about the procedure?
Firstly, your application must be registered and lodged.
Your application will be registered within 5 days after you asked for asylum.
You must then lodge your application within 21 days of the registration.
Your representative will inform you about the day and time and will accompany you to the authorities.
When someone arrives in Europe without a passport or visa, the officers will ask about their name, age and where they come from. If you are older than 6 years, they will also take your photo and your fingerprints. The photos and fingerprints, which are also called biometric data, are put into a computer system that contains all information on the people arriving to Europe.
This information helps the authorities to track who arrives, where and when, their reasons for travelling and if the person has been in Europe before.
Always work with the officers and allow them to take your photo and fingerprints. If you refuse, it can cause delays or may look like you no longer want to ask for asylum.
Your photo and fingerprints can also help to find your family if you have any here.
Learn more about finding your family here.
After your application is lodged, you may have one or more personal interviews.
This means that an officer will ask you more questions about you, why you left your country and why you do not want to return.
The officers talking to you are trained and will try their best to comfort you. They try to consider your wishes, needs and concerns before making important decisions. They also read about your country to better understand your situation.
If the authorities ask you to take part in an interview, you must attend it and tell them everything you can remember. The personal interview will be audio recorded.
Your representative will tell you when and where the interview will take place and will support you during the interview.
After the interview, everything you explained will be examined. Waiting can be difficult but be patient. The authorities want to make the right decision for you. You can always ask your representative if you need help to cope with the waiting.
How will the officials know your age?
Always tell the officers your real age. If you do not have documents to prove your age and if the authorities have doubts about your age, the staff of the asylum authorities can ask you to go through an age assessment. This is an exercise that helps estimate your age.
If you are asked to take part in an age assessment, your representative will explain the procedure to you.
There are different ways to estimate your age:
For example, it may be based on documents you have submitted or interviews with officers or different specialists. If there are further doubts, you may be asked to have a medical examination. In this case, you and your representative will be asked to provide consent.
If the age assessment concludes that you are older than 18 years old, you will be considered an adult. In this case, you will receive more information.
What is a best interests assessment?
Adults who care for children, like parents or a representative, should always put you first. Every child deserves a safe and healthy life, food, school, playtime and a loving family.
People taking care of you, including the authorities that make decisions for you, should also listen to your hopes and fears. Considering the best interests of a child means making the best choices and finding the best solutions for a child to be safe, happy and healthy.
A best interests assessment is a meeting where a trained officer carefully listens to you and asks questions to:
- understand your needs
- decide which support you need
What you tell them will help to make important decisions, bearing in mind your safety, well-being and future. Sometimes, what a child wants at any given time might not be in their best interests.
What medical care is crucial for you.
Where you will live.
Which school or work suits you.
Who will care for you.
During the assessment, tell the officer if:
You feel sick, sad, worried or if someone hurt you.
You have family in Europe.
You are with family but they can't or won’t support you.
You can trust the nurse, the doctor, the staff and your representative.
You can share anything with them. Nothing you say will be shared with anyone other than your representative without your agreement. The only exception is if your life or someone else’s is at risk.
If you don’t want your representative to be informed or involved, tell the staff.
They will examine your request and decide based on what is best for you.
How can you get more information about the asylum procedure?
Besides your representative, there are also legal counsellors who can explain to you the asylum procedure, your rights and your obligations. Ask your representative how to contact them.
If you would like a lawyer to help you, speak with your representative or another official.
The lawyer, together with your representative, can help you to:
- prepare for the interview with the authorities
- talk with asylum officials
- understand the decision on your asylum application and appeal, if you or your representative do not agree with the decision.
What do you want to know next?
You can learn more about who your representative is or how you can look for your family.
