Information about countries
Before the Immigration Service processes an asylum application, information is required about the conditions in the applicant's country of origin.
The Immigration Service’s Documentation and Project Division collect and collate background information on conditions in asylum seekers' countries of origin. This background information forms the basis for the ruling in asylum cases, but the employees of the Documentation and Project Division are excluded from the processing of all applications for asylum, and are not involved in the ruling on any asylum case.
Collection of background information
The Documentation and Project Division continually processes information obtained from an extensive selection of reports, newsletters, journals and newspapers. A great deal of information is also retrieved via the internet. In addition, individual regional experts collect information through national and international networks, including contact to researchers and others with specialist knowledge of the area. Further information is also obtained by consulting the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations organisations and other relevant sources.
Fact-finding missions
Increasingly, the Documentation and Project Division provides information gathered on fact-finding missions, in which regional experts themselves travel to the countries in question and collect information at meetings with national authorities, international organisations and national NGOs.
Trips of a shorter duration are carried out by the division itself, in order to resolve specific questions regarding specific cases. Missions with a broader theme are generally undertaken in cooperation with national partners, including the Danish Refugee Council, or international partners, such as immigration authorities in other Nordic states or the UK Home Office.
Disclosure of background information
The results of fact-finding missions are presented in reports which are made available to the public. Find fact-finding reports.