When you enter Italy by sea, you will get emergency assistance and you will go to a governmental first reception center, or in some cases, a center called a “hotspot”.
PLEASE NOTICE: If you arrive in Italy from the 19 countries designated as 'safe countries of origin' by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as of the 23 October 2024 decree) - including Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia - you may still apply for International Protection. However, if you are not considered vulnerable, do not possess a passport, and are unable to contribute economically to the asylum process, you risk being placed in a fast-track (accelerated) border procedure with detention. Read more at the end of this article below.
You can use this article to learn more on:
- What to expect when you arrive in Italy by sea
- What your rights are
What to expect when you arrive in Italy by sea
If and when you go to a governmental first reception center or hotspot, authorities:
- Take your fingerprints. They use your fingerprints to determine if they have been taken in Europe before, for border control and security reasons. You will also be asked to provide your full name, place and date of birth, and country of origin.
- Give you a health screening to determine whether you need any medical treatment.
- Determine whether you wish to seek asylum.
- Conduct an age assessment, in some cases.
What are your rights?
You can expect to stay at a governmental first reception center or hotspot center for a short period if you provide your fingerprints when asked to do so. While you are at the governmental first reception center or hotspot center, you will get basic material reception, including:
- Food
- Water
- A health screening
- A place to sleep
Interview or foglio notizie
While you are the governmental first reception center or hotspot, authorities will either interview you or make you fill out a form called “foglio notizie.” You are entitled to an interpreter if you need one. In both cases they will ask you about why you left your country of origin and came to Italy.
It is important that if you are in need of asylum/international protection, that you fill out the foglio notizie form, you always check the boxes that say “asylum” or “international protection” and never the words “study,” “job,” “work” or any similar words.
During this process you will also be asked if you have family members in other EU countries, and if you wish to reach them. If you do, you must tell the authorities during this time. Changing your decision later will be very difficult.
During the interview you will also be asked if you want to apply for asylum. Learn more:
This stage is used to decide whether you are an asylum-seeker. If you are, you will be transferred to a reception center.
Sometimes, to keep hotspots from getting too crowded, people get transferred to governmental first reception centers even before they say they want to seek asylum.
If you are not seeking asylum, you may get an order saying you have to leave the country.
If you applied for International Protection but come from a safe country of origin
If you arrive in Italy from the 19 countries designated as 'safe countries of origin' by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (as of the 23 October 2024 decree) - including Albania, Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia - you may still apply for International Protection. However, if you are not considered vulnerable, do not possess a passport, and are unable to contribute economically to the asylum process, you risk being placed in a fast-track (accelerated) border procedure with detention.
This fast-track procedure is based on the assumption that individuals from these countries do not generally face persecution or serious harm at home. While the law guarantees the right to asylum for all, if you come from on of these countries, you must provide strong evidence that you face real and individual danger in your country of origin. Without such evidence, your application is likely to be rejected as 'manifestly unfounded' (manifestamente infondata in Italian).
Learn more about: Safe countries of origin
Can I appeal if my application is considered manifestamente infondata?
If you do not agree with the Territorial Commission's decision, you may ask a judge to re-examine it. For this you will need the support of a lawyer.
Please note that you have a maximum 30 days to appeal the decision. The deadlines (30 or 15 days, based on the case), are normally specified at the bottom of the decision.
If you decide not to appeal the decision within the deadline, the Italian authorities may ask you to leave the country.
Learn more about the expulsion order: Expulsion Order
Financial guarantee to avoid detention in a fast-track procedure
If your application is examined under fast-track procedure and you risk facing detention, keep in mind that detention must be confirmed by a judge and can last up to 4 weeks.
A financial guarantee between €2,000 and €5,000 (also from third parties) can prevent detention. A June 2024 decree allows the Questura to set the precise amount.
This measure has been applied to few people so far, and some judges have released applicants. Also notice that the police are not detaining asylum seekers in reception centers to demand money or repatriate them.
If you are affected, contact a lawyer.