What is Resettlement?
Resettlement involves a voluntary, safe and regulated transfer of people in need of international protection from the country where they are registered (either with UNHCR or with host government authorities) to another country which has agreed to admit them as refugees.
Resettlement is intended as a long-term solution. It may offer a pathway for refugees to eventually become citizens in their new country, although the process can take several years. See more information at Resettlement - UNHCR Frequently asked questions
Who is a Refugee?
1951 UN Refugee Convention defines a refugee as a person who
‘owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.’
According to international law, anyone who meets this definition is a refugee. Refugees are individuals forced to flee their country due to persecution, war, or violence.
There are two routes to refugee status in the UK:
-
Resettlement by the UNHCR and Home Office, arriving with refugee status (funded and supported route).
-
Entering the UK without permission, claiming asylum, and being granted refugee status if successful.
What’s the Difference Between a Refugee and an Asylum Seeker?
Although international law makes no distinction between refugees and asylum seekers, UK immigration legislation does. As a result, the two groups have different rights and entitlements under UK law.
In the UK, the terms refugee and asylum seeker refer to different legal statuses:
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country and is seeking international protection but has not yet been granted refugee status.
A refugee is someone whose claim for asylum has been accepted, meaning they have been granted protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention.
