Know Your Rights

Given the current lack of information available for people arriving to Lesvos and seeking asylum in Greece, the Legal Centre Lesvos has released a set of info sheets to support people in knowing their rights in the following situations, including some aspects of the asylum process implemented in Lesvos, Greece.

Whilst they are very useful as a general introduction, they are not intended to be a replacement for the direct legal assistance provided in person by legal professionals.  We recommend that you consult a lawyer authorised to practice law in Greece or an organisation proving legal support about your particular case in any event. Please also be aware that the law and practices change, and whilst the information here is accurate at the time of publication (July 2021), some aspects may become outdated and require amendments.

  1. Interacting with the police
  2. Admissibility interview for nationals of Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Bangladesh & Pakistan
  3. Who is eligible for international protection?
  4. Your rights in the asylum interview
  5. Your rights after a negative decision
  6. Your rights to reunify with your family

If you currently reside on the island of Lesvos and are applying for asylum or require legal assistance and information in the defence of any of your rights, please come and visit our Legal Centre, which is based in Mytilene and can be found in Sapfous 2.  Feel free to visit us during our office hours for information or legal assistance, from Monday to Thursday, 10am to 2pm.  We have interpreters in Arabic, Farsi, Somali, Amharic, and French.


  1. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – INTERACTING WITH THE POLICE

This info sheet contains general information about your rights when interacting with the police in Greece, for example in case of a police control in the street or at your home, in case you are being taken to the police station or in case you are being asked to testify as a witness. The info sheet is based on Greek law provisions and accurate as of July 2021. In practice, the provisions are not always respected by the authorities, such as police officers themselves. 

Get your PDF here: ENGLISHفارسی FRANCAISعربي


2. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – ADMISSIBILITY INTERVIEW FOR NATIONALS OF SYRIA, AFGHANISTAN, SOMALIA, PAKISTAN & BANGLADESH

The purpose of this infosheet is to provide general information about the rights of nationals of Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan & Bangladesh in the asylum process in Lesvos, Greece, as of July 2021. It is not exhaustive, subject to changes and we recommend that you consult a Greek lawyer about your asylum case in any event.

Get your PDF here: SOMALIENGLISHفارسی – عربيFRANCAIS


3. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION?

The purpose of this infosheet is to provide general information about eligibility for international protection in Greece, updated as of July 2021. It is not exhaustive, subject to changes and we recommend that you consult a Greek lawyer about your asylum case in any event.

Get your PDF here: SOMALIENGLISH فارسی – FRANCAIS عربي


4. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – IN THE ASYLUM INTERVIEW

This info sheet contains general information about your rights at the start, during, and after your asylum interview, as carried out under the border procedure in Lesvos, Greece.  It is based on Greek law provisions and accurate as of July 2021. The info sheet is not exhaustive and is subject to changes.

Get your PDF here: SOMALI – ENGLISH فارسی – FRANCAISعربي


5. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – AFTER A NEGATIVE DECISION

This info sheet contains general information about your rights after a negative decision (or rejection) while in Lesvos, Greece. It might help you consider options available, depending on at what stage you currently are in the asylum process. It is based on Greek law provisions and accurate as of July 2021. It is not exhaustive, subject to changes and we recommend that you consult a lawyer licensed to practice law in Greece or NGO providing legal support about your specific case in any event.

Get your PDF here: SOMALIENGLISHFRANCAISفارسیعربي


6. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS – TO REUNIFY WITH YOUR FAMILY

This infosheet contains general information about rights to family reunification through the “Dublin III Regulation” for asylum applicants in Greece as of July 2021. It is not exhaustive, subject to changes and we recommend that you consult a lawyer licensed to practice law in Greece or NGO providing legal support about your specific case in any event.

Get your PDF here: ENGLISHFRANCAISفارسی –  عربي