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 the host authorities) to another country which has agreed to admit them as refugees.

The majority of refugees cannot be resettled due to the lack of sufficient places allocated by resettlement countries. For more information on resettlement, Visit the What is resettlement? page.

UNHCR is the only agency responsible for identifying and referring individuals for resettlement.

UNHCR does not accept money to identify and refer people for resettlement.

Please be careful. Do not share your personal information with others who claim they can help you with resettlement.

Nobody can apply for resettlement. 

UNHCR identifies people who are most at risk of serious harm in the country where they are registered (in this case, Bangladesh), and also in their home country, usually because of threats to their life, freedom or physical safety, or other serious violations of human rights.

Resettlement is not a right. Resettlement countries offer limited quotas, meaning that most refugees cannot be considered for resettlement to another country even if UNHCR believes it would be necessary for their protection or to reunite them with family members. UNHCR will prioritize the most urgent cases for referral to a resettlement country.

There is no need to approach the office individually or send letters or emails.

Resettlement is a long process and requires many steps. Please be patient, individuals will be contacted when updates are available.

It is, however, very important to keep your contact details updated with UNHCR and if you have any change in circumstances (family compositions changes), please approach your nearest registration site to update your records.

UNHCR and its partners offer various types of support and assistance for which you may have been contacted and interviewed.

In case you were interviewed for resettlement, you will be informed.

If you do have an urgent protection need or need to report a matter to UNHCR, you can contact UNHCR on the Helpline number 16670 or discuss with your protection focal point. Otherwise, UNHCR will refer your case to the relevant UNHCR colleagues, and they will follow up as needed. If UNHCR requires further information from you, UNHCR will contact you.

During the interview, UNHCR collects information to determine if you and your family are eligible for resettlement. At the time of interview, we are unable to provide information on where a case may be submitted, however, should you be found eligible, you may be contacted and informed.

No. Resettlement opportunities are very limited and offered by a small number of countries to refugees in Bangladesh.

UNHCR may refer your case to any country that is willing to consider your case. However, UNHCR will take into account any specific needs of refugees, family links, and the criteria of the different resettlement countries. 

If you choose not to be considered for resettlement to a particular country, your case may not be included in any further resettlement processing. If you decide to withdraw your case from the resettlement country which has interviewed or reviewed and accepted your case, UNHCR will counsel you on the implications and consequences of the withdrawal.

UNHCR may not be able to submit the case again, or to the country of your choice and it will be the decision of any other resettlement country whether to consider a resettlement submission.

The processing time for resettlement remains long and unpredictable. It depends on the resettlement country’s guidelines and priorities.

The length of the resettlement process, after UNHCR submits your case to the resettlement country, is outside UNHCR’s control. 

Due to the need to protect confidentiality, UNHCR cannot always explain to each individual why their case is placed on hold. Cases can remain on hold due to a variety to reasons.

However, once the reason is fully assessed, clarified and resolved, your resettlement process may resume. If not qualified, you will be informed during an individual counseling session.

Approaching UNHCR or asking about your case frequently will not change this and will not help your case move faster.

Resettlement is a time-consuming process and the processing time varies from country to country, due to different immigration laws, priorities and resources.

It is very hard to predict how long it will take from the time a resettlement interview with UNHCR has been completed to the time of departure. New events such as birth, marriage, pregnancy, divorce, custody, registration, and deaths, amongst others, need to be properly assessed and resolved before resettlement can proceed.

UNHCR identifies people who may be in need of resettlement and interviews them to collect the information that will be required by a resettlement country. However, the final decision whether or not to accept someone for resettlement as a refugee is made by government authorities in resettlement countries and not by UNHCR.

Resettlement countries also apply specific criteria and policies which may prevent UNHCR from referring certain kinds of cases to them.

UNHCR promotes family reunification and restoring supportive relationship and will not split dependent families. However, it is important that you inform UNHCR about any registered or unregistered, dependent family members. Counseling will be provided to the family about the implications and consequences.

Once resettled, refugee family reunification is the sole responsibility of the resettlement country, in compliance with their country’s policies and laws.

This means that UNHCR is unable to refer your case to a resettlement country at the present time.

This, however, does not mean a change of your refugee status. You will continue to receive international protection and assistance services from UNHCR.

Your case will not be automatically resubmitted to another resettlement country.

UNHCR, however, will complete a re-assessment on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration any specific needs of your family. Due to the different criteria of the various resettlement countries, you should not assume, if you are denied by one country, that you will be accepted by another.

No. Relocation to another camp, location or safe shelter is not a criteria for identification for resettlement.

Please report such a request through the UNHCR Helpline number at 16670. Your request will be submitted to the Durable Solutions unit who may contact you to clarify this new information.