Certain applicants may be in need of special procedural guarantees due, inter alia, to their age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, serious illness, mental disorders or as a consequence of torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence (recital 29 APD (recast)).

The authorities are obliged to assess if the applicant is in need of special procedural guarantees. When this is the case, applicants should be provided with adequate support and time as well as the appropriate conditions to ensure effective access to asylum procedures and to ensure that they can benefit from the rights and comply with the obligations (¹⁴⁹).

The procedures related to the identification of special needs and the nature of the support will depend on the individual procedural needs of the applicant and on national practice. This may include, for example, specific services for specific groups, such as:

• medical and psychological assistance for disabled applicants or applicants with health problems;
• support for victims of THB, such as the national referral mechanism for victims of THB;
• specialised social services for children, such as childcare;
• appointment of a representative/guardian, providing extra assistance with the relevant procedures and formalities or information on the possibility to appoint a representative for applicants with intellectual disabilities or severe mental health disorders.

(¹⁴⁹) Article 24(1) and (3) APD (recast) ‘Applicants in need of special procedural guarantees’.