What is the difference between a migrant and a refugee?
A migrant is a person who moves from his or her place of local or country of residence temporarily or for a variety of reasons including better living conditions and economic opportunities. For example, persons in Bahrain who came by choice on a work visa and stayed in the country for many years would be migrants.
A refugee also (as described below) may first leave his/her country seeking better economic opportunities, but find themselves in a situation which prevents them from returning to their country of origin, namely, due to a high risk for their safety which may amount to their persecution. The risk can be due to a general insecurity caused by war, conflict, or events seriously disturbing public order, or individual risk of well-founded fear of persecution because of the person’s race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
Who can seek asylum?
Any person who is outside his/her country of origin and is afraid or unwilling to return because of possible serious danger or harm for reasons related to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group, or at risk of cruel punishment, torture or death, can apply for asylum. UNHCR will assess each asylum application before deciding to register any case. According to the Office’s current procedures, not all applicants will be eligible for registration.