Identity not established for the majority of asylum applicants in the EU

European Migration Network Synthesis Report:

The authorities in many EU Member States are confronted with a significant number of third-country nationals who do not provide documents substantiating their identity when they apply for international protection. Establishing identity is further complicated by applicants claiming multiple identities or presenting false identification documents.

The synthesis report on the subject is based on national contributions from 25 EU Member States and Norway, which were prepared in 2012.

The national estimates of the percentage of asylum applicants not providing documents substantiating their identity ranged from 25 per cent in Latvia to 94 per cent in Sweden and Norway.

In the Finnish national contribution to the synthesis report, it was estimated that the identity had not been established for approximately 70 per cent of the asylum applicants who were granted asylum and 40-50 per cent of the asylum applicants whose applications were rejected. For Finland, the two countries which presented the most difficulties in terms of establishing the identity of asylum applicants are Iraq and Somalia. This is due to the lack of reliable documentation from these countries.

Establishing identity is of critical importance

Establishing identity is particularly important when an asylum applicant has presented personal grounds for being granted international protection.

Establishing identity is also significant in the context of returning rejected applicants to their countries of origin. An asylum applicant cannot be returned if his or her identity has not been adequately established. The factors affecting the return process include the requirements regarding identification of the country of origin, relationships with diplomatic missions and the returnees’ own willingness to assist in establishing their identity.

Many methods available for establishing identity

The aim of the national studies conducted by the EU Member States was to provide an overview of the challenges facing national authorities in their efforts to establish the identity of applicants for international protection and for the return of rejected applicants.

The synthesis report also presents an overview and analysis of national practices and identifies several best practices for establishing identity. The report also sheds light on the possible effects that the absence of valid documentation has on third-country nationals’ applications for international protection, or for the return to their presumed country of origin following a negative decision.

Where fingerprints and photographs fail to identify an applicant, alternative methods such as interviews may be applied. Interviews contain knowledge tests tailored to the presumed country of origin and language tests. Member States often apply a combination of methods to the same case to confirm the data provided and, where possible, draw upon the expertise of parties such as independent central competence centres specialising in the verification of identification documents.

EU cooperation is essential

The EMN study presents several measures:

• creating a separate module on identity under the European Asylum Curriculum
• developing guidelines on how to establish identity when valid identity documents are missing
• developing an EU-wide network of competence centres to share best practices and expertise
• exporting expertise on identity establishment to the Member States that receive the largest numbers of asylum applicants

The synthesis report “Establishing Identity for International Protection” is available on the Finnish EMN contact point’s website at http://emn.fi/raportit/uusimmat_raportit

Further information for the media

Riikka Asa, Senior Adviser, European Migration Network, Finnish Immigration Service,
tel. +358 (0)71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi