EASO practical guides and tools : in support of asylum processes and reception systems.
Date: 2021-05-27
Institutions: European Asylum Support Office
Subjects: European Union Agency for Asylum, administrative procedure, catalogue, right of asylum, user guide

EASO

EASO
Practical guides 
and tools
In support of asylum 
processes and  
reception systems

2021

 
Manuscript completed in April 2021

Neither the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) nor any person acting on behalf of EASO is responsible for 
the use that might be made of the following information.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2021

Print 
PDF 

ISBN 978-92-9485-345-5 
ISBN 978-92-9485-311-0 

doi:10.2847/929550 
doi:10.2847/748214 

BZ-01-20-087-EN-C
BZ-01-20-087-EN-N

© European Asylum Support Office, 2021
Cover page image, alphaspirit © iStock, 2020
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the copyright of EASO, permission 
must be sought directly from the copyright holders.

EASO
Practical guides 
and tools
In support of asylum 
processes and  
reception systems

2021

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CONTENTS

Foreword

ACCESS TO THE ASYLUM PROCEDURE
Practical tools for first-contact officials: 
Access to the Asylum Procedure

EASO Practical tool on registration: lodging 
of applications for international protection

DUBLIN PROCEDURE
EASO Practical guide on the implementation of the Dublin III 
Regulation: Personal interview and evidence assessment

EASO Guidance on the Dublin procedure: 
operational standards and indicators

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EXAMINATION OF THE APPLICATION
EASO Practical guide: Personal interview

10

EASO Practical guide: Evidence assessment

EASO Practical guide: Qualification for international protection

EASO Practical guide: Exclusion

EASO Guidance on asylum procedure: 
operational standards and indicators

EASO Quality Assurance Tool: Examining the 
application for international protection

EASO Practical guide on the application of cessation clauses

EASO Practical guide on the internal protection alternative

EASO Practical guide on subsequent applications

EASO Practical recommendations on conducting 
the personal interview remotely

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EASO Practical recommendations on conducting 
remote/online registration (lodging)

EASO Guidance on membership of a particular social group

EASO Practical guide on the use of country of origin information 
by case officers for the examination of asylum applications

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RECEPTION
EASO Guidance on reception conditions: 
operational standards and indicators

EASO Guidance on reception conditions for unaccompanied 
children: operational standards and indicators

EASO tool for the Assessment of Reception Conditions (ARC)

EASO Guidance on contingency planning in the context of reception

APPLICANTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
EASO Tool for Identification of Persons with Special Needs (IPSN)

EASO Practical guide on age assessment - Second edition

EASO video animations: Age assessment 
for practitioners and for children

EASO Practical guide on family tracing

EASO Practical guide on the best interests 
of the child in asylum procedures

EASO Report on asylum procedures for children

EASO Special needs and vulnerability assessment tool

EASO Referral toolkit

EASO Practical guide on staff welfare

EASO Report on mental health of applicants 
for international protection in Europe

EASO video animation: Registration of persons with special needs

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COMPLEMENTARY TOOLS
EASO Professional development seriesfor courts and tribunals

Contacts

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EASO

Foreword

EASO, the EU centre for expertise on asylum, supports EU Member States in the 
continuous improvement of the quality, fairness and efficiency of their asylum 
procedures and reception systems with the ultimate goal of achieving convergence 
in the implementation of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). To achieve 
this aim, EASO develops practical tools and guidance to help increase the knowledge 
and technical skills of asylum practitioners working in the field of international 
protection.

The practical tools and guides are developed based on Member State expertise and 
analysis gathered and shared in the framework of dedicated thematic networks on 
key areas of asylum. These key areas include: asylum processes, exclusion, reception, 
vulnerability, Dublin units, courts and tribunals. The tools are the outcome of 
rigorous cooperation and exchange among Member State experts through the 
networks or throughout the Quality Matrix process 1. In addition, the tools are 
drafted with valuable input from the European Commission, the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relevant organisations, which are 
consulted according to the topic and nature of the tool.

The purpose of the tools is to provide practical support to Member State authorities 
such as national asylum and migration authorities, to regional or local services and 
those on the ground including the following.

  First contact officials: in particular at the border or in transit zones and in 
detention facilities (border guards, including coast guards, police officers, 
immigration authorities, personnel at detention facilities, etc.).

  Reception officers: the staff providing support in reception facilities.

  Registration officers: the staff at national competent authorities, involved in any 
stage of the registration and lodging of applications, as well as supervisors, team 
leaders and managers.

  Case officers: the officers, involved in conducting interviews with applicants for 

international protection and/or decision-making on applications for international 
protection. Referred to also as interviewers and decision-makers.

1 

Process through which EASO aims to comprehensively map EU Member States’ practices 
in implementing key thematic elements of the common legal framework and to identify 
examples of good practices and available quality tools, relevant projects and initiatives. For 
more information, see https://easo.europa.eu/asylum-support-training/asylum-process-
es-quality.

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  Vulnerability experts: the staff involved in the asylum procedure and/or 
in reception who has a specific knowledge, expertise or assigned tasks on 
vulnerability-specific topics/matters (such as identification and assessment of 
special needs or referral to and/or the provision of adequate support).

  Quality assessors/quality officers: anyone conducting quality assessments. In 

the national set-up, this may include supervisors, quality specialists or any other 
staff with relevant functions.

  Dublin practitioners: staff working in Dublin units, registration officers, case 

officers and border guards. Those who conduct interviews with applicants and 
carry out the assessment to determine the responsible Member State on behalf 
of the national competent authorities or other actors involved in the Dublin 
procedure such as police officers, the judiciary, legal representatives, and social 
workers. 

  Decision- and policymakers: officials with decision- and policymaking functions 

at the different branches of Member State asylum authorities.

  Intergovernmental organisations or non-governmental organisations.

The tools translate the legal obligations, standards and good practices into 
commonly agreed guidance in various user-friendly formats, including checklists, 
pocket books, posters, web-based interactive tools, etc.

Built within the framework of CEAS, they complement each other and are to be 
used in conjunction. They are also fully consistent with the upgraded EASO Training 
modules (https://easo.europa.eu/training) and complementary to the EASO 
professional development materials for courts and tribunals (https://www.easo.
europa.eu/courts-and-tribunals).

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EASO

ACCESS TO THE ASYLUM 
PROCEDURE
Practical tools for first-contact officials: 
Access to the Asylum Procedure

This toolkit on access to the asylum procedure 
was jointly developed by EASO and the European 
Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), and 
in close collaboration with the European Union 
Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and UNHCR.

The toolkit is intended to support the identification 
of third-country nationals and stateless persons 
who may wish to apply for international protection.

Each toolkit folder includes:

  Practical guide: providing guidance on core 
obligations of the first-contact officials, the 
rights of persons in need of international 
protection and information on applicable 
procedural guarantees;

  Poster: presenting the 10 main messages on 

access to the asylum procedure;

  Pocket book: featuring the core principles and 

main messages;

  Leaflet on frequently asked questions: 

providing answers to some of the common 
questions that first-contact officials may have 
on access to the asylum procedure.

TARGET GROUP

First-contact officials

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

08/2016

978-92-9243-679-7, 978-92-9243-786-2,
978-92-9243-810-4, 978-92-9243-690-2

https://www.easo.europa.eu/ 
accesstoprocedure

 
 
 
 
EASO

7

EASO Practical tool on registration: lodging 
of applications for international protection

This practical tool presents a comprehensive 
approach for the lodging of applications for 
international protection. The tool is based on the 
relevant EU legal provisions and good practices 
gathered from Member States. It provides practical 
guidance to registration officers in their daily 
work and supports managers in strengthening the 
national registration process.

The tool provides structured guidance on 
registration procedures, including procedures 
related to special needs and Dublin considerations.

EASO 
Practical guide on 
registration: lodging of 
applications for 
international protection 

EASO Practical Guide Series 

2021 

TARGET GROUP

Registration officers

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

2021 (forthcoming)

978-92-9476-766-0

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EASO

DUBLIN PROCEDURE
EASO Practical guide on the implementation 
of the Dublin III Regulation: Personal interview 
and evidence assessment

EASO has developed a practical tool to support 
Dublin practitioners in their daily work in the 
implementation of the Dublin III Regulation.

The guide looks at two particular topics in the 
context of the Dublin procedure, personal 
interview and evidence assessment.

The guide is structured in three layers, which are 
to be used independently or in an interlinked 
manner:

  guidance through the different elements of the 
conduct of personal interview and evidence 
assessment in the context of the Dublin 
system;

  checklists as a practical reminder for those 

conducting personal interviews and evidence 
assessment;

  references to legislation, relevant case law and 

additional sources.

TARGET GROUP

Dublin practitioners

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

10/2019

978-92-9485-602-9

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
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EASO Guidance on the Dublin procedure: 
operational standards and indicators

This guidance aims to help Member States with 
operationalising the existing legal provisions of 
the Dublin III Regulation and applying them in 
a harmonised way. It presents a tool to support the 
technical operation of the Dublin units, which can 
also be used as an instrument for self-assessment.

The guidance is structured in 12 thematic sections 
covering all steps of the Dublin procedure from 
identifying a Dublin case to the point of the 
transfer. Each section includes specific common 
standards and indicators to facilitate the 
assessment of standards’ achievement. Dedicated 
boxes including good practices and clarifying 
remarks are drafted to support the interpretation 
of the guidance.

TARGET GROUP

Decision- and 
policymakers, 
managers of relevant 
(asylum) authorities, 
quality assessors

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2020

978-92-9476-538-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
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EXAMINATION OF THE 
APPLICATION
EASO Practical guide: Personal interview

Being the first practical tool developed within the 
EASO Quality Matrix process, this practical guide is 
designed to assist case officers across the EU and 
beyond in their daily work by providing a practical 
checklist and brief guidance in five stages relating to 
the conduct of the personal interview. This includes 
preparation for the personal interview (Section 1), 
opening the interview and providing information 
(Section 2), conducting the interview (Section 3), 
including guidance regarding the substance of the 
application which needs to be explored during the 
interview (Section 4), and closing the interview and 
post-interview actions (Section 5).

The guidance provides hyperlinks to legal references 
which can be accessed directly for further 
consultation.

It is also available on EASO’s mobile app for 
practical tools.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

10/2014

978-92-9243-354-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide: Evidence assessment

This guide is designed in a similar way to the 
Practical guide: Personal interview. It is intended to 
provide support for the daily work of case officers 
and addresses the challenging tasks related to 
evidence assessment:

  gathering information

  credibility assessment

  risk assessment.

A structured approach to evidence assessment, 
following the three steps above, is presented in 
checklists and brief guidance on every entry of the 
checklist. The guide further offers legal references, 
case law and a dedicated space for possible 
variations of national practice.

The guide also encloses a template, which can be 
used to apply the structured-evidence assessment 
method on individual cases.

The guide is also available on EASO’s mobile app 
for Practical Tools.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers and 
quality assessors

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2015

978-92-9476-456-0

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Practical guide: Qualification 
for international protection

This practical guide intends to assist case officers 
and decision-makers in the examination of 
applications for international protection and 
application of the legal criteria on who qualifies for 
international protection, referring to both refugee 
status and subsidiary protection.

The guide includes checklists, guidance and 
references to legislation and case law in order 
to support the case officer in assessing whether 
the individual applicant qualifies for international 
protection.

The practical guide includes a decision tree that 
describes all the steps in the decision-making 
process.

The decision 
tree flow chart 
is available in 
poster format.

The guide is also 
available on EASO’s 
mobile app for 
Practical Tools.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers and 
quality assessors

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

04/2018

978-92-9476-162-0

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide: Exclusion

EASO has developed a practical guide to assist 
in the detection and examination of potential 
exclusion cases. The guide focuses on exclusion 
grounds under Article 12(2) and Article 17 
Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) and covers 
the following aspects:

  what is exclusion?;

  detection of potential exclusion cases;

  referral and procedural guarantees;

  interview with a focus on exclusion: 

preparation and conducting the interview;

  evidence assessment;

  legal analysis: qualification of excludable acts 

TARGET GROUP

Case officers and 
quality assessors

and individual responsibility;

  drafting the decision elements related to 

exclusion;

  referral for investigation and/or prosecution.

This tool consists of checklists, brief guidance and 
references to relevant legislation and case law. 
It also envisages dedicated space for capturing 
national approaches.

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2015

978-92-9494-274-6 

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Guidance on asylum procedure: 
operational standards and indicators

The overall objective of this guidance is to support 
Member States in the practical implementation of 
key provisions of the Asylum Procedures Directive 
(2013/32/EU) to achieve fair and effective asylum 
procedures and to strengthen the CEAS at an 
operational level. The guidance can also serve as 
tool to strengthen national asylum procedures at 
policy level and as reference for the development 
of national monitoring frameworks and conduct of 
self-assessments of the asylum procedure. Built on 
existing practices that can be found within the EU, 
this guidance formulates commonly acknowledged 
operational standards and indicators that are 
realistic and achievable across all Member States 
and provides examples of good practice.

The guidance is structured in three areas of 
interest: access to procedure, guarantees for the 
applicants and examination of the application.

TARGET GROUP

Decision- and 
policymakers of 
national asylum 
authorities, managers 
and quality assessors, 
first-contact officials

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

09/2019

978-92-9476-572-7

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Quality Assurance Tool: Examining the 
application for international protection

EASO has developed a tool to provide EU+ 
countries with a common framework for internal 
quality assessment and assurance of applications 
for international protection.

The tool provides standards and indicators, as 
well as methodology for the quality assessment 
of the two core aspects of the examination of 
the application for international protection: 
substantive personal interview and first-instance 
decision on the application for international 
protection.

The tool is available as a stand-alone assessment 
form and as an IT app which allows the creation 
of reports on the overall quality of the interviews 
and decisions, for example taken over a certain 
period of time, or by a specific unit, or related to 
a particular country of origin, etc.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers and 
quality assessors, legal 
advisors

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

07/2019

978-92-9476-356-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Practical guide on the application of 
cessation clauses

EASO 
Practical guide  
on the application of 
cessation clauses 

EASO Practical Guide Series 

2021 

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, decision- 
and policymakers 
of national asylum 
authorities, managers 
and quality assessors

This practical guide aims at providing guidance 
to case officers when examining the application 
of cessation clauses and to policy officers as well 
when implementing national workflows in the 
context of the cessation process.

The tool is structured in two layers of content, 
which address the application of the cessation 
clauses in a comprehensive manner:

  Guidance on the substance of the assessment 

of the cessation provisions: individual 
behaviour of the beneficiaries leading to 
cessation; change of circumstances in the 
country of nationality / habitual residence; 
exemptions to the application of cessation; 
legal consequences of cessation; special 
circumstances when examining cessation;

  Guidance on the implementation of the 

cessation process in practice: workflows of the 
cessation process; procedural considerations 
during the implementation; checklists, points 
to consider and practical examples in the 
context of personal interviews on cessation, 
application of the burden of proof in cessation, 
legal analysis of cessation decisions.

The guide also reflects on the special 
circumstances when examining cessation such 
as on practical challenges encountered when 
communicating with beneficiaries and on the 
organisation of large-scale cessation exercises.

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

2021 (forthcoming)

978-92-9485-221-2

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide on the internal protection 
alternative

This practical tool aims at providing guidance to 
case officers and decision makers on the internal 
protection alternative (IPA) and its application. 
The guide reflects on relevant case law, national 
practices and provides practical examples for when 
case officers explore and assess the IPA during 
all steps of the procedure, such as during the 
interview and decision-making.

The guide outlines the parameters that need 
to be taken into consideration by case officers 
when identifying a potential IPA location and 
when assessing the IPA criteria in order to decide 
on its application. This includes the examination 
of safety; travel and admittance; and the 
reasonableness to settle in the IPA location.

This practical guide is complemented by commonly 
encountered profiles of applicants and points to 
consider when case officers assess the IPA criteria, 
as well as with specific considerations regarding 
the application of IPA in relation to cessation 
clauses and subsequent applications.

EASO 
Practical guide on the 
application of the  
internal protection 
alternative  

EASO Practical Guide Series 

2021 

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, decision- 
and policymakers 
of national asylum 
authorities, managers 
and quality assessors

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

2021  (forthcoming)

978-92-9485-224-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Practical guide on subsequent 
applications

The aim of this tool is to provide guidance to 
case officers on the examination process and the 
special procedural rules for assessing subsequent 
applications. To this end, the tool is focusing on 
three main aspects:

  specific rules of procedure applied for the 
assessment of subsequent applications;

  interpretation and application of relevant 

concepts related to subsequent applications;

  exploration of the specific situations in which 
a subsequent application could be submitted.

EASO 
Practical guide on 
subsequent applications 

EASO Practical Guide Series 

2021 

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, 
interviewers and 
decision-makers, as 
well as policymakers 
in the national 
determining authorities

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

2021 (forthcoming)

978-92-9485-195-6

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EASO Practical recommendations on 
conducting the personal interview remotely

This document was developed in the context of 
the COVID-19 emergency situation. The aim is 
to provide brief guidance on remote personal 
interviews based on good practices from across 
the EU+ countries and existing EASO guidance. 
Furthermore, this document elaborates procedural 
safeguards and practical recommendations that 
asylum authorities may want to consider when 
preparing and conducting a remote personal 
interview, including the following aspects:

  technical arrangements, security and 

confidentiality;

  practical arrangements prior, during and after 

the interview;

  legal considerations;

  interview techniques and quality-related 

consideration;

  vulnerability-related considerations.

European Asylum Support Office 

EASO 

Practical recommendations 
on conducting the personal 
interview remotely 

EASO Practical Guide Series 

May 2020 

SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, 
interviewers and 
decision-makers, as 
well as policymakers 
in the national 
determining authorities 

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

05/2020

978-92-9485-206-9

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Practical recommendations on 
conducting remote/online registration 
(lodging)

This document was developed in the context 
of the COVID-19 emergency situation. The 
document focuses on alternative solutions 
for registration (lodging) of an application for 
international protection. It provides practical 
recommendations on how to introduce remote, 
online or IT elements into the registration process 
in order to render the overall process more 
efficient and better organised. The guidance has 
been developed as a result of thematic meetings 
held by the EASO Asylum Processes Network and 
builds on information provided by EU+ countries, 
good practices, as well as EASO practical tools. 
Furthermore, this document elaborates procedural 
safeguards and practical recommendations 
that asylum authorities may want to consider 
when facilitating the lodging of applications for 
international protection online/remotely.

EASO 
Practical 
recommendations on 
conducting remote/online 
registration (lodging) 

EASO Practical Guide Series 

June 2020 

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, 
interviewers and 
decision-makers, as 
well as policymakers 
in the national 
determining authorities 

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

06/2020

978-92-9485-220-5

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EASO

21

EASO Guidance on membership of a particular 
social group

This practical tool aims to support Member 
States in applying the concept of membership 
of particular social group (MPSG) as one of the 
1951 Geneva Convention grounds of persecution 
in the examination process of applications for 
international protection. This soft convergence 
tool provides guidance in applying the same legal 
criteria and common standards when determining 
who qualifies for international protection.

The guide provides a set of principles and their 
application, structured in four main parts:

  legal basis of the concept of MPSG;

  legal analysis of the MPSG definition;

  the nexus between MPSG and presence or 

absence of persecution;

  commonly encountered profiles for which 

MPSG might be considered.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, quality 
assessors, decision- 
and policymakers

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2020

978-92-9476-799-8

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Practical guide on the use of country 
of origin information by case officers for the 
examination of asylum applications

This practical tool provides guidance to case 
officers on the practical use of country of origin 
information (COI) at different stages of the asylum 
procedure – when preparing and conducting the 
personal interview and when carrying out the 
credibility assessment and the risk assessment of 
the application for international protection. The 
practical guide is complemented with information 
about COI sources and practical tips for basic COI 
research.

The tool is structured in two layers, which can be 
used independently:

  guidance through the different parts of the 
procedure of examining the application for 
international protection highlighting the role of 
COI and its standards;

  a checklist of recommended steps during the 
procedure of examining the application for 
international protection related to the use of 
COI.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, quality 
assessors, legal 
advisers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

12/2020

978-92-9476-705-9

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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RECEPTION
EASO Guidance on reception conditions: 
operational standards and indicators

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This guidance is intended to provide support to 
Member States in the implementation of the key 
provisions of the Reception Conditions Directive 
(2013/33/EU). It can be used at both policy and 
operational level as a framework for further 
development of reception standards at national level 
and as a tool to support reception authorities in 
planning and in running of reception facilities.

The guidance is structured in eight key sections, 
reflecting key areas of directive, providing respective 
standards, measurement indicators as well as good 
practice:

  housing

  food

  clothing and other non-food items

  daily expenses allowance

  healthcare

  provision of information and counselling

  identification, assessment and response to 

special needs

  staff training.

The tool is complemented by the IT app arc.easo.
europa.eu (more on p. 25).

TARGET GROUP

Reception officers and 
policymakers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

09/2016

978-92-9494-236-4

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

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EASO

EASO Guidance on reception conditions 
for unaccompanied children: operational 
standards and indicators

This guidance is intended to provide support to EU+ 
countries in the implementation of key provisions 
of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/
EU), while ensuring an adequate standard of living 
for unaccompanied children that takes into account 
their special reception needs. It can be used at 
both policy and operational level as a framework 
for further development of reception standards at 
national level and as a tool to support reception 
authorities working with unaccompanied children 
in planning and in running of reception facilities and 
providing adequate care according to specific needs.

The standards and indicators laid down in 
this guidance address the specific needs of 
unaccompanied children in reception facilities, 
though the guidance may also be applicable for 
accompanied children.

The guidance is structured in nine sections 
providing respective standards, measurement 
indicators as well as good practice:

  information and representation

  identification of special reception needs of 

children

  allocation

  day-to-day care

  staff

  healthcare

  education

  food and clothing

  housing.

TARGET GROUP

Reception officers and 
policymakers

The tool is complemented 
by the IT app arc.easo.
europa.eu (more on p. 25).

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

12/2018

978-92-9494-933-2

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

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EASO tool for the Assessment of Reception 
Conditions (ARC)

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This IT tool provides a practical solution for EU+ 
countries as it allows authorities to conduct self-
assessments of reception conditions at national 
level. It rests on the common reception standards 
and indicators outlined in the two EASO guidance 
documents on reception published in 2016 
(general) and 2018 (unaccompanied children).

Available both as an app and as an offline software, 
the tool allows EU+ countries to collect, process 
and share data on performance of reception 
facilities.

Core technical functionalities of the tool include:

  assessment along with a check box of each 
relevant indicator with tips and guiding 
examples provided;

  report production including statistics, graphs 
and comments on the implementation of 
standards and indicators;

  voice recognition (EN) for easy recording of 

comments during an assessment.

Additional content is also available:

  operational tips for indicators with practical 
examples on how to assess a given indicator;

  assessment methodology including 

participatory approach and residents’ feedback 
(to be developed upon completion of the tool);

  a qualitative and quantitative reporting format.

TARGET GROUP

Reception officers and 
policymakers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2021

978-92-9494-933-2

arc.easo.europa.eu

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EASO Guidance on contingency planning in the 
context of reception

This guidance aims to assist Member States’ 
reception authorities in their preparedness and 
ability to cope with situations of mass influx or 
unexpected events.

The tool provides detailed guidance on 
contingency planning to facilitate early action, 
manage future uncertainty and help anticipate and 
solve problems related to potentially high-influx 
situations.

The guidance is structured in 13 sections, 
complemented with checklists and following an 
integral approach to contingency planning. These 
sections include:

  management and decision-making

  information management

  external coordination

  budget management and financial resources

  housing capacity

  resource management

  human resources

  minimum standards relating to reception 

conditions

  security/safety and prevention.

TARGET GROUP

Reception officers and 
policymakers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2018

978-92-9494-705-5

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

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APPLICANTS WITH SPECIAL 
NEEDS
EASO Tool for Identification of Persons with 
Special Needs (IPSN)

The IPSN Tool is an interactive online solution 
which allows the user to identify potential special 
needs in the context of the asylum procedure and 
reception.

It supports the identification of 14 different 
categories: accompanied and unaccompanied 
children, disabled people, elderly people, pregnant 
women, single parents with minor children, 
victims of human trafficking, persons with serious 
illnesses, persons with mental disorders, persons 
who have been subjected to torture, to rape or to 
other serious forms of psychological, physical or 
sexual violence, LGBTI and people with gender-
related special needs.

The tool suggests special guarantees focusing on 
five aspects:

  first contact – making an application

  reception support

  lodging the application

  personal interview

  end of the first instance asylum procedure.

Based on the selections made by the user, the 
tool generates a report, which can be further 
individualised with a reference number and 
relevant notes, before being saved and/or printed.

TARGET GROUP

Officials and other 
actors in contact 
with applicants 
for international 
protection

PUBLICATION DATE

2019

https://ipsn.easo.europa.eu/

 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide on age assessment - 
Second edition

This practical guide is intended to support EU+ 
countries in the implementation of the principle of 
the best interests of the child when assessing the 
need for age examination and when designing and 
undertaking age assessment.

The guide is structured around five interlinked 
pillars and offers:

  analysis of the impact of age assessment on 

other rights of the applicant;

  guidance on the application of the necessary 
principles and safeguards in the assessment 
process;

  guidance on implementing the assessment 
process using a holistic and multidisciplinary 
approach;

  overview of age assessment methods 

conducted by EU+ countries;

  key recommendations to address practical 

challenges.

The practical guide provides a set of tools and 
reference documents such as glossary of terms, 
international, European and national legal 
framework and a checklist. It is complemented 
by two video animations for practitioners and 
children, respectively (more on page 29).

TARGET GROUP

Policymakers and 
officials involved in the 
age assessment process

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

09/2018

978-92-9476-090-6

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
EASO

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EASO video animations: Age assessment for 
practitioners and for children

Two video animations complement the practical 
guide on age assessment:

  The animation on “Age assessment for 
practitioners” is directed at reception 
and asylum officials, migration and law 
enforcement officers, social workers, 
radiologists, paediatricians, public prosecutors 
and other stakeholders. It presents in an 
easy-to-understand way the key elements of 
the guidance and the necessary safeguards 
to ensure a right compliant and reliable age 
assessment.

  The animation on “Age assessment for 

children” intends to inform children and youth 
about what to expect when asked to undergo 
an age assessment.

TARGET GROUP

Policymakers and 
official involved in the 
age assessment process

TARGET GROUP

Children

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PUBLICATION DATE

2020

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide on family tracing

This guide provides a set of guidance and reference 
materials to support EU+ countries regarding 
family tracing, as well as a mapping of current 
practices of family tracing across EU+ countries.

The guide is constructed around four interlinked 
pillars:

  introduction to the topic by outlining the 

circumstances of family tracing;

  a visual outline of the family tracing process, 

including applicable principles and guarantees;

  overview of current family tracing practices 

across the EU+ countries;

  conclusions and recommendations promoting 

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consistent standards and guarantees.

Reference materials in the guide include glossary 
of relevant terms, legal framework, list of relevant 
projects and initiatives, relevant publications, and 
a mapping of the practice of EU+ countries.

Policymakers and 
practitioners working 
with unaccompanied 
children and involved 
in different stages 
of the family tracing 
process

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

03/2016

978-92-9243-987-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
EASO

31

EASO Practical guide on the best interests of 
the child in asylum procedures

This practical guide is intended to support 
competent Member State authorities in applying 
the principle of the best interests of the child 
and enhancing the guarantees within asylum 
procedures for children. The guide is structured in 
four sections:

  background elements of the best interests of 

the child;

  relevant guarantees;

  guidance on how to assess the best interests in 

practice;

  vulnerability and risk indicators.

The guidance is complemented with an overview 
of the terminology, a comprehensive checklist 
as well as relevant policy, guidance and legal 
framework documents.

TARGET GROUP

Policymakers and 
practitioners involved 
in assessing the best 
interests of the child 
and/or dealing with 
children

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PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

02/2019

978-92-9485-159-8

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Report on asylum procedures for children

The report is part of EASO’s effort to help Member 
States mainstream child-related issues in asylum 
procedures. The report presents national practices 
and policies on asylum procedures for children, 
identifying gaps and areas of diverging practice 
across Member States, highlighting good practices, 
and providing key recommendations to strengthen 
the protection of children across the EU.

The report traces the practices across EU+ 
countries along four key topics:

  best interests of the child in asylum 

procedures;

  asylum procedures for children;

  referral;

  specialisation and training of staff.

The report provides operational definitions and 
recommendations to respond to the identified 
challenges undermining the effective protection of 
children in asylum procedures.

TARGET GROUP

Policymakers and 
officials handling the 
cases of children

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

05/2019

978-92-9476-448-5

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
EASO

33

EASO Special needs and vulnerability 
assessment tool

This tool is designed to support relevant Member 
State authorities with the assessment of special 
needs of applicants and identification of timely 
actions within the reception and asylum process. 
To this end it provides a common understanding 
and step-by-step guidance on how to assess special 
needs.

The tool offers a carefully composed questionnaire 
in seven thematic sections and a case analysis 
guide for a special needs assessment of individual 
cases and related decisions.

The tool can be used either on paper or 
electronically and is an integral part of the 
EASO Vulnerability Toolkit comprising the EASO 
Identification of Persons with Special Needs Tool 
(IPSN) and the EASO Referral toolkit.

TARGET GROUP

Case officers, reception 
officers

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PUBLICATION DATE

2021 (forthcoming)

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

EASO Referral toolkit

This practical tool is intended to support relevant 
authorities in improving their referral mechanisms 
for all categories of vulnerable persons in need of 
international protection. It presents a structured 
system of referral which can serve as a model for 
the development or improvement of national 
referral mechanisms and includes regional and 
local perspectives. It could also serve as an 
information provision tool for applicants looking 
for support.

The tool offers guidance in three main parts:

  standard referral form

  mapping practical tool

  referral mechanisms guidelines.

The tool is an integral part of the EASO 
Vulnerability Toolkit comprising the EASO 
Identification of Persons with Special Needs Tool 
(IPSN) and the EASO Special needs and vulnerability 
assessment tool.

TARGET GROUP

Decision- and 
policymakers, 
reception officers, 
case officers

PUBLICATION DATE

2021 (forthcoming)

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Practical guide on staff welfare

This guide is intended to assist managers and staff 
working in the field of asylum and reception with 
methods, tools and a roadmap to maintain staff 
wellbeing and ensure a safe and healthy working 
environment for asylum professionals working with 
applicants for international protection. The guide is 
composed of three interlinked parts. 

  Part I: Standards and policy proposes 

eight standards to guide staff welfare policy 
formulation, implementation and evaluation 
in the asylum and reception settings of EU+ 
countries. 

  Part II: Staff welfare toolbox proposes a 

range of practical tools, measures and soft skill 
training suggestions to be used by managers 
and first-line workers to meet the standards in 
staff well-being introduced under Part I. 

  Part III: Monitoring and evaluation 

recommends measures to be put in place 
to evaluate staff welfare policies and assess 
how and if the well-being of staff is positively 
impacted by measures introduced.

The guide is complemented by a video animation 
on the early identification of signs of stress. It is 
aimed at promoting staff welfare in the area of 
reception and asylum. The animation presents 
the key elements of recognising signs of stress 
in an easy to understand way. It also presents 
the responsibility of teams and colleagues in this 
process and the simple steps to take to address the 
well-being of the staff members concerned.

TARGET GROUP

Managers, team 
leaders and 
coordinators as well 
as first-line staff 
working in asylum and 
reception.

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

2021 (forthcoming)

978-92-9485-227-4

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO Report on mental health of applicants for 
international protection in Europe

The report is part of EASO’s effort to support 
Member States to enhance identification and 
response to the mental health concerns of 
applicants for international protection in the 
reception context and in the asylum procedure. 
The report maps the main signs and sources 
of mental health concerns in applicants for 
international protection and main challenges faced 
by first line workers in their daily engagement with 
such applicants.

The report traces practices across EU+ countries in 
dealing with mental health concerns of applicants 
and highlights gaps, good practices as well as 
formulates recommendations in four key areas:

  identification and response

  referral and collaboration

  support

  monitoring, documentation and sharing of 

information.

EASO
Mental health of 
applicants for 
international protection 
in Europe

Initial mapping report

2020 

TARGET GROUP

Registration officers, 
reception officers, case 
officers, policymakers

PUBLICATION DATE

ISBN

07/2020

978-92-9485-662-3

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
EASO

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EASO video animation: Registration of persons 
with special needs

This animation points to basic safeguards and 
guarantees that are to be provided during 
registration. It is built on the story of a 17-year-old 
girl who is applying for asylum in Europe together 
with her husband. 

The animation could be used for information 
sharing purposes, as well as during training courses 
as a discussion trigger with staff working for asylum 
authorities.

TARGET GROUP

Registration officers

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PUBLICATION DATE

08/2020

https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

 
 
 
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EASO

COMPLEMENTARY TOOLS
EASO Professional development series 
for courts and tribunals

EASO develops a professional development series 
(PDS) in close collaboration with its network of 
national contact points from Member States 
and non-member countries, judicial training 
institutions, judicial associations, the Court 
of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the 
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), UNHCR 
and other relevant actors.

Developed by judges, for judges, the PDS materials 
comprise judicial analyses, compilations of 
jurisprudence and judicial trainers’ guidance notes 
covering different aspects of the asylum acquis.

The chapters of the PDS series include:

COMMON EUROPEAN ASYLUM SYSTEM

  Introduction to the Common European Asylum System for courts and tribunals, 

2016.

DETENTION

  Detention of applicants for international protection in the context of the 

Common European Asylum System, 2020.

 
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ACCESS TO THE ASYLUM PROCEDURES

  Asylum procedures and the principle of non-refoulement – Judicial analysis, 

2018.

EXAMINATION OF THE APPLICATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION

  Qualification for international protection (Directive 2011/95/EU) – Judicial 

analysis, 2016.

  Article 15(c) Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU), 2014.

  Exclusion: Articles 12 and 17 Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) – 2nd edition, 

2020.

  Ending international protection: Articles 11, 14, 16 and 19 Qualification Directive 

(2011/95/EU), 2017.

EVIDENCE AND CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENT

  Evidence and credibility assessment in the context of the Common European 

Asylum System – Judicial analysis, 2018.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION

  Judicial practical guide on country of origin information, 2018.

RECEPTION

  Reception of applicants for international protection, 2020.

VULNERABILITY

  Vulnerability in the context of applications for international protection – Judicial 

analysis, 2021.

For more information, please see: https://easo.europa.eu/courts-and-tribunals

 
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EASO

Contacts

You can provide your feedback on the EASO practical guides and tools through the 
form which you will find on the EASO website: https://easo.europa.eu/practical-tools

More information about EASO and its activities 

www.easo.europa.eu 

info@easo.europa.eu

Follow us

facebook.com/easo.eu

twitter.com/easo

linkedin.com/company/european-asylum-support-office

youtube.com/user/EASOChannel

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Notes

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Getting in touch with the EU

In person
All over the European Union there are hundreds of Europe Direct information centres. You can 
find the address of the centre nearest you at: https://europa.eu/european-union/contact_en

On the phone or by email
Europe Direct is a service that answers your questions about the European Union. You can contact 
this service:
– by freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (certain operators may charge for these calls), 
– at the following standard number: +32 22999696 or 
– by email via: https://europa.eu/european-union/contact_en

Finding information about the EU

Online
Information about the European Union in all the official languages of the EU is available on the 
Europa website at: https://europa.eu/european-union/index_en

EU publications
You can download or order free and priced EU publications from EU Bookshop at: https://
publications.europa.eu/en/publications. Multiple copies of free publications may be obtained by 
contacting Europe Direct or your local information centre (see https://europa.eu/european-union/
contact_en).

EU law and related documents
For access to legal information from the EU, including all EU law since 1951 in all the official 
language versions, go to EUR-Lex at: http://eur-lex.europa.eu

Open data from the EU
The EU Open Data Portal (http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en) provides access to datasets from 
the EU. Data can be downloaded and reused for free, both for commercial and non-commercial 
purposes.

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