The Asylum Procedure

You can apply for asylum: 

• If you are not a European Union citizen and cannot return to your country of origin because you fear persecution or risk serious harm, and you are unable to receive protection from your country of origin. 
• If you do not have any citizenship and fear persecution or risk serious harm if you return to your country of habitual residence. 

You can express your intention to apply for asylum:
– To the Border Police Station upon arrival or,
– If you are already in Italy, at the Immigration office (Ufficio immigrazione) of the nearest Provincial Police Headquarters (Questura).

After the screening procedures and other checks, your application for international protection will be registered and examined by the relevant authorities. In some cases foreseen by law, the application can be examined through so-called “border procedures”, taking place near the border or at entry points to Italy.

Even if you are in a prison or being held in a pre-removal facility, you have the right to apply for international protection.
Remember that:
• Applications are individual: each adult must personally submit their own application.
• If you have children under 18 with you, please inform the Authorities of their presence immediately.
• There is no formal timeframe for making an asylum application, but it is recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible after your arrival in Italy.

You can express your intention to seek international protection orally or in writing, in your own language, with the help of an interpreter.  

Information on your application for international protection is confidential. This means that all persons who will process it, including the Police, will not share any information – without your consent– with any external persons, including authorities of your country of origin. 

You can speak in your own language during the whole procedure.  

You must receive, where necessary, the services of an interpreter in your own language or in a language you understand. Where necessary, during the procedure, the documents you produce shall be translated by interpreters working for the competent authorities. 

The authorities will record your personal information (name, surname, date and place of birth, nationality), ask you why you are requesting protection, and take a photograph. If you are 6 years old or older, your fingerprints will also be collected and recorded in the European database Eurodac, in accordance with the regulations currently in force in the European Union.
Remember that:
• If you do not speak Italian, you have the right to be assisted by an interpreter for free.
• If you have a passport, you might be requested to hand it over to the Police.
• You may submit all documents in your possession that could be useful to understand your situation.
• If you wish, you can also submit a written document (in Italian or another language) in which you explain your story and the reasons for your application.
If you have specific needs or are in a condition of vulnerability (for example, you are under the age of 18, you are pregnant, you have disability or a serious disease, you have survived violence or torture, or you need specific assistance), inform the authorities immediately so that they can offer you the necessary support.

You can only apply for asylum in one country, which is competent to assess your asylum application. It is not possible for you to choose which country. Such a country is determined based on EU law: generally, the competent country for assessing your asylum application is the first European country you entered.
However:
• If you are under 18, you are alone here, and one of your parents, a brother/sister, uncle/aunt, grandfather/grandmother is legally present in another European country, this country can be responsible for the examination of your application. Do not leave the reception centre and inform your guardian/the social worker/Police officer that you wish to join your relatives.
• If you are an adult and your spouse or minor children are resident in one of the Member States of the European Union as beneficiaries of international protection or as asylum-seekers, that State may examine your application. If you wish to join your family members, inform the competent authorities (Police Officers during the registration phase, Territorial Commissions during the RSD procedure) immediately.
When you are fingerprinted (if you are 6 or older), your fingerprints are entered into a system called EURODAC, the European Central Database. The EU State you are in determines whether it is competent to decide on your application or whether another country is responsible.

If you have a health problem, a disability, are pregnant, have experienced violence, torture, or human trafficking, have mental health problems, or have other specifical needs, it is important to inform the authorities as soon as possible.

From 12 June 2026, during the screening phase required by the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, the authorities must verify not only your identity and administrative status, but also whether you have special health needs or vulnerabilities that require adequate assistance and protection. The information you provide is intended to ensure that you receive the necessary assistance and that your personal situation is taken into account during the asylum procedure.

For this reason, during screening, when registering your asylum application, and at any point during the procedure, remember to indicate if:
• you are a child (younger than 18 years old);
• you are an elderly person (older than 65 years old);
• you are pregnant or have a very young child;
• you have a disability;
• you suffer from a physical or mental illness;
• you have experienced violence, torture, exploitation, trafficking, or other traumatic experiences;
• you need medical care or psychological support.

If your situation changes during the procedure, inform the Police Headquarters (Questura), the reception center staff, or the staff supporting you. You have the right to request that your specific needs be taken into consideration throughout the asylum procedure and during your reception period.

To submit your asylum application and during the procedure aimed to assess your application, the presence of a lawyer is not required. However, if you prefer to be assisted by a lawyer you can do it at your own expense.  

• Please note that you can receive assistance from a legal operator at the center where you are staying, and many NGOs and associations can also provide you with free legal support.  

If your application has been rejected, you can lodge your appeal against this decision. In this case, you need to be assisted by a lawyer.  

If you do not have sufficient economic resources, you have the right to be assisted by a lawyer, in front of the tribunal, free of charge.