Registration

If you are physically present in India and cannot return to your home country because you fear persecution and need international protection, you may request registration with UNHCR. During registration, UNHCR records, verifies and updates information about you and your family, including the reasons for your application for international protection.

Please share the below information with us. Upon receiving this information, UNHCR staff will contact you on the next steps.
• First and last name:
• Date and place of birth:
• Country of origin:
• Sex:
• Number of family members who are in India and are to be registered:
• Date of arrival in India:
• Phone number in India:
• Email address:
• Address in India:
• UNHCR case number of family members already registered with UNHCR
A valid email address is required for all persons over eighteen years of age who seek registration with UNHCR.

You can provide the above information on email. Kindly contact UNHCR and its partner organizations as per the information below:
• UNHCR India: [email protected]
• UNHCR Field Office Chennai: [email protected]
• Telangana: [email protected], phone: 8977999218

Due to the high number of requests and inquiries, UNHCR will not be able to respond immediately. On average, it takes a minimum of one month to respond to your request for registration.
Please ensure you request an appointment for any services that you require from UNHCR or its partners.

When you contact UNHCR India or UNHCR’s partner organizations for registration, please share the following information:

• First and last name:
• Date and place of birth
• Country of origin:
• Sex:
• Number of family members who are in India and are to be registered:
• Date of arrival from country of origin:
• Phone number in India:
• Email address:
• Address in India:
• UNHCR Case number of family members already registered with UNHCR

Any specific or urgent need should be highlighted when requesting an appointment. This will be taken into consideration as per the criteria for prioritization.

A valid email address is required for all persons over eighteen years of age who seek registration with UNHCR.

UNHCR recognizes that personal information is highly sensitive. Therefore, UNHCR treats all information with the utmost confidentiality. Your information will not be shared with any individual, family member, relative, or any government without your prior consent. Please note that under no circumstances will UNHCR share your information with the government of your country of origin.

When you contact UNHCR India or UNHCR’s partner organizations for registration, please share the following information:

• First and last name:
• Date and place of birth
• Country of origin:
• Sex:
• Number of family members who are in India and are to be registered:
• Date of arrival from country of origin:
• Phone no/WhatsApp number:
• Email address:
• Address in India:
• UNHCR Case number of family members already registered with UNHCR:

UNHCR recognizes that personal information is highly sensitive. Therefore, UNHCR treats all information with the utmost confidentiality. Your information will not be shared with any individual, family member, relative, or any government without your prior consent. Please note that under no circumstances will UNHCR share your information with the government of your country of origin.

Please bring all documents relevant to your case, including passports, identity papers, marriage certificate, birth certificate, family census or national identity document, military service booklets, medical certificates, evidence of previous registration with another UNHCR office, UNRWA office or a previous country of asylum.

In addition, please bring any UNHCR issued document such as an identity card, asylum seeker document, appointment letter. Any documentation received from a UNHCR Office other than India should also be presented.

Please note you have an obligation to be truthful and to provide all relevant information and available evidence to UNHCR, including with regards documentation. Please note that if you fail to provide a full and truthful account to UNHCR, including with regards to documentation, it could have serious negative consequences on the processing of your case and may result in long delays and/or inability to appropriately assist you.

A registration interview is conducted by trained UNHCR or partner registration staff with persons seeking to apply for asylum. Please note that you can request an interviewer and/or an interpreter of a particular sex to conduct your interview.

During the registration interview, individual biodata, photographs and biometric information (iris and/or fingerprint scan) are captured. Applicants are required to show travel documents, identity papers, employment and education records, and other documentation if available. After a review of this information, UNHCR issues a document to applicants, confirming their status as asylum seekers under the mandate of UNHCR.

This will be followed by enrolment in My Services portal https://help.unhcr.org/india/my-services-portal/ for those who are above eighteen years or age, and those who undergo registration in New Delhi or Hyderabad. Kindly bring your phone.

A valid email address is required for all persons over eighteen years of age who seek registration with UNHCR.

Globally, not all asylum seekers who register with UNHCR undergo RSD in line with the strategic use of RSD. Registration with UNHCR does not mean you will be invited for an RSD interview.

All persons seeking asylum (including family members and/or any other dependents) should be present on the day of your registration interview.

Persons with specific needs are systematically identified and prioritized.

All individuals involved at any stage of the registration process, including UNHCR and partner registration staff and interpreters, are bound by strict confidentiality obligations. This includes the duty to protect the confidentiality of the procedures and any personal or sensitive information obtained in the course of such processes. Interpreters have no role in the decision making process.

Using biometrics (fingerprints and iris) helps UNHCR to protect the digital identity of refugees and asylum seekers, to prevent identity theft and fraud and thereby to maintain the integrity of the asylum system. Biometrics allow UNHCR to quickly identify asylum seekers and refugees and retrieve their file in any location even if documentation is lost or stolen. With biometrics, UNHCR can quickly verify an individual for assistance, thereby ensuring timely provision of support to targeted beneficiaries only. Biometrics are verified at all stages of the registration procedure including registration and continuous registration.

Appointments to renew UNHCR issued documents can be booked up to 90 days ahead of the expiry date of your current UNHCR issued documentation. For appointments, please contact UNHCR on email at [email protected] or contact UNHCR’s partnerorganizations.UNHCR will invite refugees and asylum seekers for appointments based on the date of validity of their documents.

On the date of your interview, please make sure to bring all available relevant documents, including expired UNHCR card(s) for all members of your case, documents that are providing evidence on your identity such as national passports (if available) for all members in your family who are registered with you, and documents that support any changes to your personal or family status that you would like UNHCR to record.

During the process, we will verify biometric information

Enrolment in My Services shall also be undertaken in Delhi and MARI Hyderabad office after face-to-face verification. For this purpose, please bring your phone. Every member of family over 18 years of age should also have a valid email id to be enrolled in My Services https://help.unhcr.org/india/my-services-portal/

What happens if I do not renew my UNHCR document in time?

We encourage you to ensure you renew your UNHCR issued documents before the date of expiry of such documents. In case, you are unable to approach UNHCR in time to renew your document, you can send an email on [email protected] requesting an appointment. At the time of document renewal, you will be required to bring your passport and other supporting documents.

Most interviews are conducted in-person at the UNHCR’s Registration Centre in New Delhi and at MARI’s Registration Centre in Hyderabad. However, exceptionally, few interviews may be conducted remotely after verification of access to a confidential interview space including at partner premises and using UNHCR corporate tools.

If you have a new phone number or new address, please share your updated information via email ([email protected]). UNHCR will ensure your new contact details are updated in the system. Please indicate your case number in the email.  For those enrolled on the My Services Portal, you can also update your phone number through My Services Portal  https://help.unhcr.org/india/my-services-portal/ 

If you wish to register your family member with UNHCR India, please send the information below via email ([email protected]) or contact the UNHCR’s partner organization in your location.

Upon receiving the information below, UNHCR staff will contact you on the next steps.

For a new birth:

• Your case number
• Copy of birth certificate
• Vaccination document of the new birth
• Photo of the new birth in your family(white background)
• Your current address in India and contactable phone number

For a newly arrived family member:

• Your case number
• Full name of the new family member(s)
• Your current address in India and contactable phone number

For those enrolled on the My Services Portal, a request for addition of new birth or registration of newly arrived family member (to be registered in the same case) can be sent through My Services Portal https://help.unhcr.org/india/my-services-portal/

If you think UNHCR does not have your correct personal data, please contact UNHCR by sending an email to [email protected]. Please share your correct details and copies of the supporting documents such as:

• Your case number
• National ID card, passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, formal education document or other document in support of the change in personal data.
• Your complete address and contact information

UNHCR staff or partner organization staff will contact you for a brief verification interview.