Who can apply for international protection (asylum)
Back to: The Greek Asylum System and its Functions
In the EU context, the international protection encompasses refugee status and subsidiary protection status.
The requirements for granting asylum (refugee status) to a person are based on the Geneva Convention of 1951, while the requirements for granting subsidiary protection are based on national and European law.
Who is regarded to be a person seeking international protection?
A person seeking international protection is any alien or stateless person who declares to any Greek authority, orally or in writing, that he/she is seeking asylum or requests not to be deported because he/she is in fear of persecution for reasons of:
- race
- religion
- nationality
- participation in a particular social group
- political beliefs
or because, in his/her country of origin or country of previous residence, he/she is in danger of suffering serious harm such as
- death penalty or execution
- torture or inhuman or degrading treatment
- life or physical integrity in danger because of an international or civil war
Also, any alien who is transferred to Greece by a European state which implements the “Dublin III” Regulation is regarded to be a person seeking international protection (asylum).
The subsidiary protection is given to a person who does not qualify as a refugee but in respect of whom substantial grounds have been shown for believing that the person concerned, if returned to their country of origin, or in the case of a stateless person to their country of former habitual residence, would face a real risk of suffering serious harm.
Access to international protection (asylum) procedure system is free of charge.