Procedure of allocation of a room in the Reception Centre (Temporary Accommodation for Asylum-seekers)
The Reception Centre functions under the subordination of the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS) and is designed for the free of charge accommodation of asylum-seekers and their family members. Freedom of movement of the asylum-seekers residing in the Reception Centre is not restricted.
If you want to live in the Reception Centre, you should mention it in your asylum application or submit a separate application.
After receiving a relevant application, the MCS will issue a referral for accommodation in the Reception Centre, if there is a free room there.
When allocating a room, the manager of the Reception Centre takes into account the number, sex, age of your family members and other peculiarities. Members of the opposite sex who do not belong to the same family are not accommodated together.
While residing in the Reception Centre, you and your family members will be provided with food, bed linen, and hygienic kits free of charge. You will not make payments for consumed electricity and water. Saving those resources is highly encouraged. The Reception Centre is financed from the state budget.
If there is no free room in the Reception Centre, a referral cannot be issued. In such cases, you have the right to apply for financial assistance. To apply, submit a form to the MCS, after which MCS will assess your needs and make a decision based on established criteria.
The financial assistance shall be provided for a period of three months, and if the consideration period of asylum application is extended, the assistance will be provided until processing of the application is completed by the MCS (maximum six months).
Please note that food and hygiene kits are not provided in this case.
Financial assistance may not be provided to you, when:
- Your application for asylum has been rejected by the MCS in accordance with the accelerated procedure prescribed by the RA Law “On Refugees and Asylum.”
- Your application for asylum has been rejected and you re-applied for asylum in Armenia;
- You have rejected the offer of the MCS to reside in the Reception Centre or other accommodation;
- You had previously resided in the Reception Centre and left the area occupied upon expiry of the term of residence;
- You had previously resided in the Reception Centre; however, the referral issued by the MCS was recognized as invalid owing to your absence without a valid reason or violation of internal house rules for the residence.
- You — as an unaccompanied or separated child or a person with special needs — have been placed in an establishment, where your basic needs are satisfied.
The provision of financial assistance will be stopped, when:
- A room has been provided to you by the MCS in the Reception Centre or in another place, despite the fact, whether or not the allocated area has actually been occupied thereby.
- You have been provided with accommodation in the framework of the projects implemented by international or non-governmental organizations.
- You have acquired an apartment by the right of ownership.
- You do not have the status of an asylum-seeker anymore.
Period of residence in the Reception Centre
The Republic of Armenia legislation stipulates a certain timeframe for living in the Reception Centre. You and your family members may reside in the Reception Centre until a final decision on your application is made.
If your application is rejected and you have appealed the negative decision to the court, you have the right to continue to stay in the Reception Centre until a final decision on your application is made by court instances.
If your application is rejected and you have not appealed the negative decision to the court, you may continue to live in the Reception Centre for up to 30 days. When the deadline expires, you have to immediately free the room.
If your application is satisfied and you have been recognized as a refugee and received asylum, you have to vacate the room after notification from the MCS on a positive decision. Afterwards, you can then apply for accommodation in a dormitory or social housing through the RA Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA), which will be reviewed by a relevant working group.
Internal house rules for residence in the Reception Centre
The house rules for residence in the Reception Centre are established by the decree of the then-competent Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure dated 10 August 2016, and they are obligatory for all residents of the Reception Centre.
The house rules for residence in the Reception Centre will be introduced to you by the manager of the Reception Centre in the language you understand when you move to the center. You should respect the house rules.
In case problems occur during living in the Reception Centre, you may apply to the manager of the Reception Centre, as well as to MCS, to UNHCR, and to partner NGOs.