Zurich Airport, Canton Zurich

Center for Administrative Detention (Zentrum für Ausländerrechtliche Administrativhaft) (ZAA)

Switzerland

Status

In use

2025

Type: Immigration detention centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Canton Zurich, Migrationsamt des Kantons Zürich / Service de la Population, Canton Vaud

Management: Canton of Zurich (Governmental)

Detains: Adult women, Adult men, Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
130
No Data
No Data
Switzerland

3,023

Migration Detainees

2,452

Migration Detainee Entries

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ABOUT

Center for Administrative Detention (Zentrum für Ausländerrechtliche Administrativhaft (ZAA)) is located in the former Zurich Airport Prison.

FACILITY NAMES
Center for Administrative Detention (Zentrum für Ausländerrechtliche Administrativhaft) (ZAA)

Alternative Names: (formerly) Zurich Airport Prison (Flughafengefängnis Abteilung Ausländerrechtliche Administrativhaft), Das Zentrum für ausländerrechtliche Administrativhaft (ZAA)

Location

Country: Switzerland

City & Region: Zurich Airport, Canton Zurich, Europe

Latitude, Longitude: 47.4504958699, 8.5593795776

Contact Information
Postfach 141
8058 Zürich-Flughafen
Tel. 044 804 29 00
Fax. 044 803 00 21
Email: flughafengefaengnis@ji.zh.ch

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2025
In use
2023
In use
2020
In use
2015
In use
2011
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2025
Administrative
Immigration detention centre
2024
Criminal
Prison or pretrial detention centre
2011
Management
Management
Type
Year
Canton of Zurich
Governmental
2025
Canton de Zurich
Government-local
2015
Operating Period
Year of entry
Year ceased
1995

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult women

2011

Adult men

2011
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2011

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 130

2025

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 130

2024

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 106

2011
Capacity Reserved for Migration Detainees (criminal facility)

Number 105

2015

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2011

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Overall Inspection Score

Minimum Standards (“Good,” “Acceptable,” or “Meets Standards”)

2021

CARCERAL INDICATORS

Carceral Environment

Yes

2021
External Security Regime

Secure

2011

STAFF

SEGREGATION

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Indoor Communal Space

Yes

2025
Remunerated Work

Yes

2022

HEALTH

MONITORING & ACCESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Computer Access

Yes (with restrictions)

2025
Internet Access

Yes (with restrictions)

2025