The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) does not accept applications for resettlement from individuals. Resettlement is a protection tool and a durable solution offered only to a small minority of refugees who face serious risks that cannot be addressed in their country of asylum. Global needs far exceed available places in resettlement countries. The UNHCR, also known as UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee from their countries.
Facts About UNHCR
- Main Job: Protect refugees, help them find a safe place to live, and support them when they go back home or move to a new country.
- Start Date: December 14, 1950.
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- Who They Help: Refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people, and people forced to move inside their own countries.
Basic Requirements for UNHCR Referral
- The person must generally be a recognized refugee (by a host State under the 1951 Convention/1967 Protocol or related regional instruments, or by UNHCR under its mandate).
- Limited exceptions exist for certain dependent family members (e.g., children or partners who are nationals of the country of asylum) on family-unity grounds.
- Exclusion clauses (serious non-political crimes, crimes against peace/humanity, acts contrary to UN purposes) must not apply.
The Seven Resettlement Submission Categories
UNHCR assesses cases against these protection-based categories (cases are normally submitted under two categories). Identification uses an age, gender and diversity (AGD) approach and prioritizes those most at risk. Non-protection factors (education, language skills, integration potential, nationality, etc.) are not relevant to UNHCR’s decision to refer.
1. Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs
Serious threats in the country of asylum, including risk of refoulement, arbitrary arrest/detention, threats to physical safety or fundamental human rights that make asylum untenable.
2. Women and Girls at Risk
Survivors of, or at heightened risk of, gender-based violence (including sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, etc.), especially where local protection is inadequate.
3. Children and Adolescents at Risk
Cases where resettlement is determined to be in the child’s best interests (unaccompanied or separated children, those at risk of exploitation, abuse, or other serious harm).
4. Survivors of Violence and/or Torture
Individuals whose experiences of violence or torture create ongoing trauma or heightened risk, and where appropriate treatment or a safe environment is not available in the country of asylum.
5. Medical Needs
Life-saving treatment, treatment to prevent irreversible loss of function, or treatment essential for a normal life that is unavailable (or cannot be accessed) in the country of asylum. Medical Assessment Forms (MAFs) are typically required.
6. Restoring Family Unity
When resettlement is the only realistic way to reunite refugees who have been separated (primary focus on nuclear family; broader family links may be considered in some contexts).
7. Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions
Usually used as a secondary category. It applies when there are no realistic prospects of safe return to the country of origin and no prospects of legal/socio-economic integration in the country of asylum (often relevant in protracted situations).
How Identification and Referral Work
- UNHCR identifies potential cases through registration data, protection monitoring, community-based protection activities, referrals from partners/NGOs, and proactive screening of vulnerable groups.
- Cases undergo a Needs Assessment and Initial Review, followed (if appropriate) by a detailed Resettlement Interview.
- A Resettlement Registration Form (RRF) is prepared documenting the refugee claim, protection needs, family composition, and justification for resettlement.
- UNHCR then selects a resettlement country based on family links, urgency, quota availability, country-specific criteria, medical treatment capacity, and other factors. Refugees cannot choose the destination.
- Priority levels (emergency, urgent, normal) affect processing speed.
Important Realities
- Resettlement is not a right. Even when UNHCR assesses a strong need, limited annual quotas mean most refugees will never be referred.
- Submission does not guarantee acceptance by a resettlement country. Countries apply their own additional admissibility and selection criteria.
- Processing can take months to years depending on urgency, location, and the receiving country’s capacity.
- Complementary pathways (family reunification, labour mobility, education, private sponsorship) exist alongside traditional resettlement but follow different rules.
For the most authoritative and detailed guidance, consult the official UNHCR Resettlement Handbook (available on the UNHCR website). Criteria and operational practices are applied consistently with an AGD and family-unity lens, and they can be updated as protection environments change.
UNHCR Resettlement Submission Categories
UNHCR uses seven protection-based categories to identify and prioritize refugees for resettlement referral. These categories focus exclusively on protection needs and vulnerabilities in the country of asylum (or related risks linked to the country of origin). Cases are normally submitted under two categories to strengthen the justification for prioritization. An Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach guides all assessments. Non-protection factors such as education level, language skills, work experience, or integration potential are not considered by UNHCR when deciding whether to refer a case.
1. Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs
This applies when a refugee faces serious threats to their legal status or physical safety in the country of asylum that cannot be adequately addressed locally.
Examples include:
- Risk of refoulement (forced return to the country of origin where they would face persecution or serious harm)
- Threat of arbitrary arrest, detention, or imprisonment
- Direct threats to physical safety or fundamental human rights that make continued asylum untenable
The threat must be real and direct (not merely incidental or general insecurity affecting the wider population). It can target an individual or a specific group.
2. Women and Girls at Risk
This category covers women and girls who are survivors of, or at heightened risk of, gender-based violence (GBV).
It includes situations such as sexual violence, domestic violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, or other forms of harm linked to gender, where local protection mechanisms, legal remedies, or support services are inadequate or inaccessible.
UNHCR pays particular attention to intersecting factors (e.g., disability, age, sexual orientation, or minority status) that increase vulnerability.
3. Children and Adolescents at Risk
This applies to children and adolescents (including unaccompanied or separated children) for whom resettlement has been assessed as being in their best interests.
Common situations include children at risk of exploitation, abuse, trafficking, forced recruitment, or other serious harm, or those whose care and protection needs cannot be met in the country of asylum.
A formal Best Interests Determination (BID) or Best Interests Assessment is typically required.
4. Survivors of Violence and/or Torture
This category is for individuals who have experienced violence or torture and for whom continued stay in the country of asylum (or potential return) risks further traumatization or heightened vulnerability.
It also applies when appropriate medical, psychological, or psychosocial treatment and support are unavailable or inaccessible locally.
The definition of torture aligns with the 1984 Convention against Torture. Past experiences of severe violence that continue to affect the person’s safety or well-being are considered.
5. Medical Needs
This covers refugees who require medical treatment that is life-saving, necessary to prevent irreversible loss of function, or essential for a normal life, and that is not available (or cannot be reliably accessed) in the country of asylum.
Temporary medical evacuation is considered first where feasible. A Medical Assessment Form (MAF) completed by a qualified medical partner is usually required to document the condition, prognosis, and treatment needs.
This category prioritizes serious, time-sensitive medical conditions.
6. Restoring Family Unity
This category is used when resettlement is the only realistic means of reuniting refugee family members who have been separated.
The primary focus is on the nuclear family (spouses/partners and dependent children), although broader family links may be considered in specific circumstances.
It applies when other family reunification pathways are unavailable or ineffective, and separation itself creates serious protection or humanitarian concerns.
7. Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions
This is most often used as a secondary (supporting) category.
It applies when a refugee has no realistic prospect of:
- Safe and voluntary return to the country of origin in the foreseeable future, and
- Legal and socio-economic integration in the country of asylum (e.g., no pathway to secure legal status, work rights, or long-term residence).
It is particularly relevant in protracted refugee situations where other solutions remain blocked for the foreseeable future.
Key Points to Remember
- Resettlement is needs-driven and highly selective. Even when a case meets one or more categories, limited global quotas mean most refugees will never be referred.
- UNHCR identifies cases proactively through registration data, protection monitoring, community outreach, and partner referrals. Individuals cannot apply directly.
- Priority levels (Emergency, Urgent, or Normal) further influence processing speed once a case is accepted for submission.
- Receiving countries apply their own additional criteria after receiving a UNHCR referral.
These categories are detailed in Chapter 3 of the official UNHCR Resettlement Handbook. Operational guidance continues to evolve, so the live online handbook remains the authoritative reference.
UNHCR Resettlement Handbook
The UNHCR Resettlement Handbook is the primary official guidance document used by UNHCR staff worldwide for identifying, assessing, and submitting refugees for resettlement. It is also a key reference for resettlement countries, NGOs, and partners. A fully revised online version is currently maintained and updated periodically on the UNHCR website (replacing the earlier 2011 print edition).
Purpose of the Handbook
- Provides standardized policy and operational guidance on resettlement as a protection tool and durable solution.
- Ensures consistent, equitable, and integrity-focused identification and processing of cases based on protection needs (not on integration potential, education, language skills, or similar non-protection factors).
- Incorporates an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) approach and the principle of family unity throughout.
- Covers the full process from case identification through submission, country selection, and pre-departure arrangements.
- Reflects current best practices in child protection, data protection, anti-fraud measures, accountability to affected people, and diverse case-processing modalities (including the use of the proGres database).
Main Structure (Current Online Edition)
Introduction: Sets the context of resettlement within UNHCR’s international protection mandate and the search for durable solutions. Emphasizes that global needs greatly exceed available places.
Chapter 1 – Refugee Status and Resettlement
- Refugee status (recognized by a host State or by UNHCR under its mandate) is a core requirement for resettlement.
- Explains determination of refugee status under UNHCR’s mandate, key elements of the 1951 Convention definition, exclusion clauses, and case-processing modalities.
- Notes limited exceptions for certain dependent family members on family-unity grounds.
Chapter 2 – Managing Resettlement Activities and coordination
- Covers overall management, planning, data systems, partnerships, and integrity safeguards.
Data protection in resettlement, Communication, File management, record keeping and Fraud and misconduct
Chapter 3 – The Resettlement Submission Categories
Lists and explains the seven protection-based categories used for submissions (cases are normally submitted under two categories):
- Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs
- Women and Girls at Risk
- Children and Adolescents at Risk
- Survivors of Violence and/or Torture
- Medical Needs
- Restoring Family Unity
- Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions (usually secondary)
Each category includes detailed guidance on assessment, documentation, and application of the AGD approach.
Chapter 4 – Baseline Resettlement Procedures Step-by-step operational guidance, including:
- Case identification
- Processing and submission priority levels (emergency / urgent / normal)
- Needs Assessment and Initial Review
- Resettlement Interview
- Group processing
- Completing the Resettlement Registration Form (RRF)
- Submission to resettlement countries
- Country selection criteria
- Emergency transit facilities
- Decision by the resettlement country
- Pre-departure arrangements
Chapter 5 – Partnerships and Advocacy Covers multilateral forums, cooperation with governments, NGOs, and the resettlement deployment scheme.
Resettlement Country Chapters Separate, periodically updated chapters prepared by individual resettlement States describing their national criteria, procedures, and priorities.
Key Principles Emphasized Throughout
- Resettlement is needs-driven, not numbers-driven.
- Only a small percentage of refugees are ever referred due to limited global quotas.
- Individuals cannot apply for resettlement; UNHCR identifies and refers cases.
- Integrity, transparency, anti-fraud measures, and accountability to refugees are central.
- Family unity and the best interests of the child are prioritized.
- Complementary pathways (family reunification, labour, education, sponsorship) are distinguished from traditional resettlement.
Accessing the Handbook
The current version is available online at the official UNHCR Resettlement Handbook portal. It is designed for continuous updating, so content can change as policies and operational practices evolve. Older printed editions (notably 2011) have been superseded.
For the most accurate and up-to-date details on any specific procedure, category, or country chapter, consult the live online handbook directly, as it is the authoritative source used by UNHCR staff.