Understanding Resettlement
Who may be considered?
UNHCR submits refugees for resettlement based on vulnerability and protection needs, not on nationality, wealth or connections.
You must first be a refugee
Only people recognised as refugees, by a government or by UNHCR, can be considered. Being registered or recognised does not guarantee resettlement.
Submission categories
UNHCR looks at whether a person falls into one of these groups:
- Legal and physical protection needs, including risk of being sent back to danger.
- Survivors of violence and torture who need specialised care.
- Medical needs, including life-threatening conditions where treatment is unavailable.
- Women and girls at risk of harm because of their gender.
- Children and adolescents at risk, including unaccompanied children.
- Family reunification where separation causes serious hardship.
- No foreseeable alternative lasting solution.
What also matters
Countries set their own priorities and criteria, such as nationality groups or regions. UNHCR matches referrals to what each country accepts, so being eligible in principle does not mean being referred.
Important: UNHCR decides who it refers using its own assessment. You can keep your registration details up to date and tell staff about changes in your circumstances, but you cannot pay or apply to be selected.
Questions about your situation?
Read our frequently asked questions or visit the contact page.
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