The Asylum Code provides that the time limit for such full registration to take place, is no more than 15
days. More precisely, according to the Asylum Code, where “for whatever reason” full registration is not
possible, following a decision of the Director of the Asylum Service, the Receiving Authorities may conduct
a “basic registration” (απλή καταγραφή) of the asylum seeker’s necessary details within 3 working days,
and then proceed to the full registration by way of priority within a period of not exceeding 15 working
days from “basic registration”. 182 In such a case, the applicant receives upon “basic registration”, a
document indicating his or her personal details and a photograph, to be replaced by the International
Protection Applicant Card upon the lodging of the full application. 183
According to the Asylum Code, if the application is submitted before a non-competent authority, that
authority is obliged to promptly notify the competent receiving authority and to refer the applicant
thereto.184 However, in practice, for an asylum application to be properly lodged, the applicant should
lodge an application in person before the Asylum Service.
For third-country nationals willing to apply for asylum while in detention or under reception and
identification procedures, the detention authority or RIS must register the intention to apply on an
electronic network connected to the Asylum Service no later than 3 working days under the Asylum
Code.185
Moreover, according to the Asylum Code, the lodging of the application with the Receiving Authorities
must be carried out within 7 working days after the “basic registration” by the detention authority or the
RIS.186 In order for the application to be fully registered, the detainee is transferred to the competent RAO
or AAU.187
Lodging of applications (“Κατάθεση”)
No time limit is set by law for lodging an asylum application. Article 83 of Asylum Code transposes Article
13 of the recast Asylum Procedures Directive that refers to applicants’ obligations and foresees that
applicants are required to appear before competent authorities in person, without delay, in order to submit
their application for international protection.
Applications must be lodged in person, 188 except under force majeure conditions. 189 According to the
Asylum Code, the lodging of the application must contain inter alia the personal details of the applicant
and the full reasons for seeking international protection.190
As a general rule, the Asylum Code provides that the asylum seeker’s card, which is provided to all
persons who have been fully registered i.e., lodged their application, is valid for 1 year, which can be
renewed as long as the examination is pending. 191 However, the Asylum Code provides for a number of
cases where the asylum seeker’s card can be valid for shorter periods. Thus, the validity of an asylum
seeker’s card can be set for a period:
❖ No longer than 3 months, where the applicant belongs to a nationality with a recognition rate
lower than 35% in accordance with the official EU statistics and by taking into consideration the
period for the issuance of a first instance decision expected; 192
❖ No longer than 30 days, where the communication of a decision or a transfer on the basis of the
Dublin Regulation is imminent;193
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
Article 69(2) of Asylum Code.
Ibid.
Article 69(9) of Asylum Code.
Article 69(7) (b) of Asylum Code.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Article 83(3) of Asylum Code.
Article 83(4) of Asylum Code.
Article 69(1) of Asylum Code.
Article 75 (1) of Asylum Code.
Article 75 (2) of Asylum Code.
Article 75 (3) of Asylum Code.
52
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