Immigration Law · European Union
In Immigration Detention? A Lawyer Can Fight For Your Release
Immigration detention is used across Europe to hold people during removal or while a claim is decided — often with limited access to the outside world. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who specialises in challenging unlawful or excessive detention and can work to secure your release or better conditions.
- Challenging unlawful detention
- Release applications & bail
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
Get matched with a lawyer
Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
If you or a family member is held, the first question is whether the detention is lawful
Immigration detention is the practice of holding a person in custody for immigration reasons — typically while removal is being arranged, while a claim is assessed, or to establish identity. Across Europe the rules vary considerably: some countries detain routinely, others only as a last resort, and the maximum periods and conditions differ from one jurisdiction to the next. What is common is that detention is subject to legal limits, and that those limits are frequently breached — people are held longer than the law allows, without proper review, or in conditions that fall short of national and European standards. If you or a family member is detained, the most urgent question is whether the detention itself is lawful. A specialist lawyer can review that immediately, apply for release or bail where possible, and challenge any detention that goes beyond what the law permits.
Why detention is so hard to fight alone
Immigration detention strips away the tools you need
to defend yourself.
Limited access, no clear release date and complex legal limits all stack the odds against the person held.
No clear release date
Immigration detention often has no fixed end date, leaving people unsure how long they will be held. The uncertainty is compounded by limited access to legal advice, family and documents while inside.
Detention beyond legal limits
Many countries set maximum time limits on immigration detention, but people are still held beyond them or without the required periodic review. Without a lawyer checking, an unlawful extension can go unchallenged for weeks.
Difficulty preparing a defence
Being detained makes it far harder to gather evidence, contact witnesses or instruct legal counsel. This imbalance can weaken a person’s immigration case while their liberty is already restricted.
What you get
A lawyer who works to get you out — and to keep your case alive
We only match you with lawyers who handle immigration detention and release applications regularly in your country.
Urgent detention review
Your lawyer checks immediately whether the detention is lawful — whether the legal grounds, time limits and review procedures were followed — and tells you honestly what your options are for release.
Release & bail applications
Where release is possible, your lawyer prepares and files the application for release or bail, proposing conditions or guarantees that address the authorities’ concerns and support your case.
Challenging unlawful detention
If you have been detained unlawfully or beyond the permitted period, your lawyer can challenge the detention before the court and seek your immediate release and, in some countries, compensation.
Family & case coordination
Your lawyer liaises with the detention facility, the authorities and your family, ensuring your immigration case continues to move forward even while you are in custody.
Coverage
Immigration detention lawyers across Europe
Detention rules and time limits are national, so the right lawyer is one who challenges detentions before your specific country’s courts and authorities on a regular basis. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Immigration detention — common questions
How long can a person be held in immigration detention in Europe?
Maximum periods vary significantly by country, from a matter of weeks to several months or more, and many countries require regular judicial review. Because the limits differ so much, a lawyer familiar with the specific country is essential to check whether a detention is within the law.
Can I be released from immigration detention on bail?
In many countries, yes. Release or bail may be granted subject to conditions such as reporting requirements, a fixed address, or a financial guarantee. A lawyer can advise on the conditions most likely to be accepted and prepare a strong application on your behalf.
What can a lawyer do if I am being detained unlawfully?
A lawyer can challenge the lawfulness of the detention before a court, argue that the legal limits or review requirements were breached, and seek your immediate release. In some jurisdictions they can also pursue compensation for unlawful detention.
Does detention stop my immigration case from progressing?
No, and it should not. Your immigration claim continues while you are detained, but being in custody can make it much harder to gather evidence and communicate. A lawyer can keep the case moving and ensure your detention does not silently undermine your legal position.
Can I see a lawyer while I am in immigration detention?
Generally yes — people in immigration detention have a right to legal advice and to contact a lawyer in most European countries, though practical access can sometimes be difficult. A lawyer can often arrange representation remotely or at the facility, and can push back if access is being obstructed.
What are my family’s rights if I am detained?
Your family has a right to know where you are and, in most cases, to contact you, and detention may also be challenged where it causes disproportionate harm to children or other family members. A lawyer can advise your family on the steps they can take and represent your combined interests.
Free case review
Detention has legal limits — make sure yours are respected
Tell us where you or your family member is being held and we’ll connect you, free of charge, with a lawyer who can challenge the detention and seek release.