From the moment an applicant for international protection makes an application for international protection, reception conditions must be made available. This is in line with the Pact on Migration and Asylum. This includes during the screening process, asylum border procedure and the regular asylum procedure.

Applicants must be ensured adequate standard of living through access to clearly defined rights, services and support. These obligations stem from the Reception Conditions Directive (2024/1346/EU) (RCD (2024)), which establishes mandatory standards for reception conditions across Member States. It includes material reception conditions, access to information, protection of family unity, healthcare, access to education and employment, identification of vulnerabilities and safeguards - including, but not limited to those relating to restrictions of freedom of movement and detention.

This section introduces the reception process as regulated by the RCD (2024). Emphasis is given to information provision as a continuous core obligation throughout the entire asylum procedure. Effective information provision ensures that applicants are informed of their rights, obligations and procedural steps in a timely and accessible manner. This enables them to effectively exercise their rights, comply with their obligations and navigate the different stages of the asylum process.