Canton Zurich

Zurich Airport Transit Zone Detention Facility (Flughafengefängnis Abteilung Strafvollzug)

Switzerland

Status

In use

2024

Type: Transit centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Canton Zurich, Migrationsamt des Kantons Zürich

Management: Not Available

Detains: Accompanied minors, Families, Adult women, Adult men, Asylum seekers (administrative), Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
60
166

9 February 2024

No Data
Switzerland

3,023

Migration Detainees

2,452

Migration Detainee Entries

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ABOUT

The Zurich Airport Transit Zone Detention Facility is a holding center within Zurich Airport where migrants, asylum seekers, and travellers facing entry restrictions are detained while their cases are processed. Situated at one of Europe's major transit hubs, this facility plays a key role in Switzerland’s border enforcement policies, often holding individuals in legal limbo as they await deportation or asylum decisions.

FACILITY NAMES
Zurich Airport Transit Zone Detention Facility (Flughafengefängnis Abteilung Strafvollzug)
Location

Country: Switzerland

City & Region: Canton Zurich, Europe

Latitude, Longitude: 47.4497993729, 8.5648727417

Contact Information
8058 Zürich-Flughafen
Email: flughafengefaengnis@ji.zh.ch

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2024
Temporarily closed
2023
In use
2022
In use
2021
In use
2020
In use
2011
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Transit centre
2022
Administrative
Transit centre
2011

DETAINEES

Demographics

Accompanied minors

2024

Families

2024

Adult women

2024

Adult men

2024

Adult women

2022

Families

2022

Adult men

2022

Accompanied minors

2022
Categories of detainees

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2024

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2024

Asylum seekers (administrative)

2022

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2011

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 60

2024

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 60

2023

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 130

2022

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 106

2021
Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
166
9 February 2024
28
1 April 2021
Number of men detained on single day
Number
Date
84
9 February 2024
Number of women detained on single day
Number
Date
82
9 February 2024
Reports of Detainee Overpopulation at Facility

Yes

2024

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2021

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2021

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2011
Maximum Legal Length of Detention (days)
Days
Year
60
2021

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

CARCERAL INDICATORS

External Security Regime

Security Level Secure

2011

STAFF

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Gender Segregation Yes

2024

Gender Segregation Yes

2022
Family Segregation

Family Segregation Yes

2024

CELLS

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee Yes

2021

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Outdoor Space Yes

2022

Outdoor Space Yes

2021
Hours Outdoor Space Accessible

Hours 9

2021
Leisure Equipment

Leisure Equipment Yes

2021
Activities/Education for Children

Activities/Education for Children No

2024

Activities/Education for Children No

2023

Activities/Education for Children Yes

2021
Remunerated Work

Remunerated Work No

2024

Remunerated Work No

2022

Remunerated Work Yes

2021

HEALTH

Doctor on Duty

Frequency At least once a week

2024

Frequency At least once a week

2022

Frequency At least once a week

2021
Nurse on Duty

Frequency At least once a week

2024

Frequency At least once a week

2022

Frequency At least once a week

2021
Psychologist Visits

Frequency At least once a week

2021

MONITORING & ACCESS

Monitors & Civil Society Access
Access?
Type of Institution
Year
Yes
International Organization for Migration
2024
Family Access

Family Access Yes

2021

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Free Outgoing Local Calls

Free Outgoing Local Calls Yes

2021
Internet Access

Internet Access Yes (with restrictions)

2021