Canton Zurich

Zurich Airport Transit Zone Detention Facility (Flughafengefängnis Abteilung Strafvollzug)

Switzerland

Status

Temporarily closed

2023

Type: Transit centre (Administrative)

Custodial Authority: Canton Zurich, Migrationsamt des Kantons Zürich

Management: Not Available

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

Capacity Reported population Deaths at facility
60
166

9 February 2024

No Data
Switzerland

3,023

Migration Detainees

2,761

Migration Detainee Entries

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Marker
Leaflet, © OpenStreetMap contributors
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
Civil Society Contacts

Organisation: Organisation Suisse Daide Aux Réfugiés
Website: https://www.osar.ch/contact
Phone: +41 31 370 75 75
Email: info@osar.ch

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
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

Name Adult women

2022

Name Families

2022

Name Adult men

2022

Name Accompanied minors

2022
Categories of detainees

Name Asylum seekers (administrative)

2022

Name Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2011

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

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

Reported Overpopulation Yes

2024

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

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

Secure

2011

STAFF

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Yes

2022

CELLS

At Least Three Square Meters Per Detainee

Yes

2021

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Yes

2022

Yes

2021
Hours Outdoor Space Accessible

9

2021
Leisure Equipment

Yes

2021
Activities/Education for Children

No

2023

Yes

2021
Remunerated Work

No

2022

Yes

2021

HEALTH

Doctor on Duty

At least once a week

2022

At least once a week

2021
Nurse on Duty

At least once a week

2022

At least once a week

2021
Psychologist Visits

At least once a week

2021

MONITORING & ACCESS

Family Access

Yes

2021

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Free Outgoing Local Calls

Yes

2021
Internet Access

Yes (with restrictions)

2021