In Croatia, illegally staying third-country nationals are detained. Asylum seekers, in principle, are not detained, except those who apply for asylum after being issued with a removal order. The maximum duration of detention is 90 days. A foreigner can always be released, if there is a reasonable expectation that forcible return is not feasible. However, after the expiry of the 90 days, the foreigner can be detained again, if the procedure for identification or the collection of documents is under way; or if security reasons require this; or if during the removal the foreigner has submitted an asylum application.

Illegally staying unaccompanied minors are released from detention and are appointed a legal guardian; they are accommodated and cared for in the “Institution for Children with Behavioural Disorders” in Zagreb.

Unaccompanied minors who apply for asylum are transferred to the open Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers in Kutina and appointed a legal guardian. (Kutina is around 80 km east of Zagreb. The centre is located at the outskirts of Kutina, and it is run and managed by the Ministry of Interior.)

SOURCE March 2007: UNHCR

LOCATIONS OF DETENTION

In Croatia there is one detention centre for illegally staying third-country nationals (pre-removal detention) in Ježevo, close to Zagreb.

2007 Locations of detention in Croatia (88.92 KB)

In 2006, a total of 1719 persons were detained in Ježevo, according to highest numbers of nationalities:

• Albania: 700
• Serbia-Montenegro (incl. Kosovo): 460
• Turkey: 170
• Moldova: 100
• Romania: 60
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: 40
• African countries: 16
• other countries: 173.

SOURCE March 2007: UNHCR

In October 2008, the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) released a report on its visit to Croatian detention centres between 4-14 May 2007.

October 2008 CPT report on Croatian detention centres (707.35 KB)

WEBLINKS

UNCHR The Balkans: http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/balkans?page=contacts