An asylum application will not be considered properly lodged until it is fully registered by the Asylum Service, as the competent authority. For third-country nationals willing to apply for asylum while in detention, the competent Detention Authorities shall ensure the immediate preparation and submission of a written declaration to that effect, following which the detention authority must register (simple registration) the application on an electronic network connected to the Asylum Service within three working days.264 Moreover, according to the Asylum Code, the lodging of the application with the Receiving Authorities must be carried out within seven working days after the “basic registration” by the detention authority or the RIS.265 In order for the application to be fully registered, the detainee is transferred to the competent RAO or AAU.266 Lodging of applications (“Κατάθεση”) No time limit is set by law for lodging an asylum application. However, Article 83 of the 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,267 except under force majeure conditions.268 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.269 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.270 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: v 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;271 v No longer than 30 days, where the communication of a decision or a transfer on the basis of the Dublin Regulation is imminent;272 v No longer than 30 days, where the application is examined “under absolute priority” or “under priority”, under the accelerated procedure, under Art. 84 (inadmissible) or under the border procedure.273 In 2022, the Asylum Service registered 37,362 applications for international protection, mainly lodged by Afghans (5.624) and Syrians (5.050).274 In 2023, the Asylum Service registered 64,212 applications for international protection, mainly lodged by Syrian (21.8%), Afghan (14.8%), Palestinian (10.5%) and Iraqi (10.1%) nationals.275 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 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. Article 75 (4) of Asylum Code. Information published by the Asylum Service 31 December 2022, available in Greek at: https://bit.ly/41W5ZsN. MoMA, Statistics, Consolidated Reports - Overview: December 2023 - International Protection | Appendix A, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yc2stzh7, table 8a. 66