The Rumour: “Journalists in Moria told us that we can seek asylum in other EU countries through Greece, and this applies only for Syrians. Is it true?”
In Fact: Regardless of your nationality, you are not able to apply for asylum in another EU country while you are currently in Greece. The Greek authorities are only responsible for examining your claim for asylum in Greece and not in any other country.
Only one EU member state can be responsible for examining each asylum application.
If you have started the procedure of claiming asylum in Greece, then you cannot re-apply for asylum in any other EU member state.
However, there are two legal ways to leave Greece, if eligible.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION: You are able to apply for family reunification while in Greece in order to be united with your family members who legally live in another European country. If the other European country accepts your request for family reunification, then this country will be responsible to examine your asylum claim.
You are eligible to apply for family reunification:
- If you are an adult (over 18 years old), you can ask to live with your spouse or your minor child;
- If you are under 18 years old and travelling without your parents or a legal guardian, you can ask to join your mother/father, sister/brother, aunt/uncle, or grandmother/grandfather.
RELOCATION: You are able to apply for relocation to another EU country and your asylum will be examined by that country.
In order to benefit from relocation:
- You have to be a national from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, British overseas countries and territories, Eritrea, Grenada, Guatemala, Syria and Yemen, or a stateless person previously residing in one of these countries;
- You have to first apply for international protection in Greece and express your wish to be relocated;
- You must show that you reached Greece between the 16th of September 2015 and the 19th of March 2016.
For more information:
http://asylo.gov.gr/en/?page_id=66
https://newsthatmoves.org/en/rumour-applying-for-asylum-in-different-countries/
https://newsthatmoves.org/en/rumour-family-reunification-2/
https://newsthatmoves.org/en/rumour-relocation-to-another-eu-country/
