Protection services
All services provided by UNHCR and our partner organizations are free of charge!
Refugee community leaders and community-based structures, such as committees, groups or clubs, have no role in facilitating or influencing your access to services and assistance provided by UNHCR and partners.
Protection Services available in India:
One-Time Emergency Cash Assistance is provided to a limited number of individuals in situations of heightened protection needs.
How does cash assistance work?
Refugees and asylum seekers with vulnerabilities – identified through various channels of engagement – are individually assessed for eligibility for cash assistance based on established criteria. One-time cash assistance is then provided to the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers who are determined to have met the specific eligibility criteria.
Gender-based violence denies individuals their human dignity and undermines human development. UNHCR India is committed to ending GBV, protecting women and children from harm and upholding the human rights of forcibly displaced persons.
In addition to supporting women and children, UNHCR works with male survivors of sexual violence and survivors with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI).
Responding to and Preventing GBV
Refugee communities play a crucial role in protecting women and children. Silence is not the answer. Everyone in the community has a responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment and help prevent gender-based violence.
Community members should:
- Listen to the survivor and respect their privacy.
- Avoid blaming or judging the survivor.
- Not discuss the incident publicly.
- Not report the incident without the consent of the survivor.
- Not condone silence.
Supporting survivors, including children
- UNHCR partners can help refer survivors to health, security, legal and psychosocial support services.
- Survivors can also directly reach out to the below helplines for services, available 24/7 across all locations in India:
- 1098 – Childline helpline for children in distress, providing immediate support and access to police assistance.
- 1091 –Women’s helpline to provide women in distress with immediate access to police assistance.
- 011-24373737 / 91-7838957810 – Shakti Shalini helpline offering support and assistance to survivors of gender-based violence.
- 181 – Women’s helpline run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development connecting survivors with police, One Stop Centres, hospitals, and legal services.
- 14490 – Women’s helpline run by the National Commission for Women offering counseling and guidance while connecting women with police, hospitals, and legal services.
- 102 -Ambulance
- 100 – Police
UNHCR and partners advocate for the inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers in national services, including healthcare. UNHCR encourages community-led initiatives, including youth groups, to facilitate hospital visits for vulnerable community members, including through interpretation services.
UNHCR and partners advocate for the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in national services, including education.
- UNHCR encourages community-led initiatives, including youth groups, to support the community with bridge and tuition classes.
- For Education Support Letters, kindly reach out to our partner organizations: BOSCO/ ACTION AID/ MARI/ ADRA/ DAJI
- For NIOS admissions and examinations across all locations in India, please reach out to BOSCO.
Refugee youth in India can apply for the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship programme. It offers qualified refugee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum. Through the dedicated support of the Government of Germany, Denmark, UNHCR and private donors, the programme has supported over 21,500 young refugees to undertake tertiary studies since 1992. To learn more, please contact BOSCO or the partner in your area.
DAFI scholarships are awarded for a maximum of four years of study at bachelor or equivalent levels in higher education institutions including nationally accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes lasting a minimum of two years. Master level study is not supported. The scholarship contributes towards the cost of the fees, study materials as well as a subsistence allowance to cover living, transport and other costs associated with a higher education programme. There are no charges for the forms or for any of the processes.
Eligibility Criteria
• Valid refugee card holder
• Age of 28 or younger at the start of your studies. (Exceptions may apply if bachelor study was
started in the home country but studies were interrupted, or challenges due to a specific factor
such as parenting/childcare responsibilities, disability, etc.)
• Completion of high school and availability of original documents for verification (provide
reasons in case original documents are not available)
• Applicants should have receipt of the College/TVET admission.
• Above average results in high/secondary school
• Good knowledge of the language of instruction in the College/TVET
• Not currently receiving a scholarship from another source
• Strong motivation to contribute to the community through leadership, volunteering,
community service, mentoring and community development
• Admission for a first college degree at a government/recognized university/ college/ polytechnic or TVET (e.g. B. Com, B.Sc. or higher diploma)
• One scholarship per family (generally excludes siblings of current/former scholars).
• Applicants with advanced voluntary repatriation/ resettlement or complementary pathways
• Sponsorship cases are requested not to apply for DAFI, so that the limited slots can benefit
those who do not have this option
• Only those committed to completing courses need apply- dropping out of courses wastes
resources, and risks reduced funding in future
• Scholarship slots under DAFI are announced in the second half of the year
UNHCR is committed to utilizing all available resources and mobilizing relevant stakeholders to ensure the protection of refugees and asylum seekers in India. To this end, UNHCR engages with the Government of India to advocate for the regularization of stay for refugees and asylum seekers through the grant of residential permits and stay visas. UNHCR and partners also advocate for the recognition of documentation issued by UNHCR to asylum seekers and refugees, and for the issuance of government documentation to those registered with UNHCR India.
UNHCR and partners consistently engage with authorities to seek protection for refugees and asylum seekers from detention, deportation or forced return. On-going advocacy efforts at central, state and local levels emphasize the importance of non-penalization of refugees and asylum seekers for irregular entry or stay. UNHCR and partners also regularly undertake sensitization activities with law enforcement agencies and other authorities to enhance the protection environment for refugees and asylum seekers.
UNHCR urges all refugees and asylum-seekers to abide by the law, and refrain from any conduct that may draw adverse attention from authorities or contribute to negative perceptions about refugees.
LTV Support Letters
To request an LTV support letter, please contact us at: [email protected]
Frequently asked questions
- Registration is the recording, verifying and updating information of refugees and asylum seekers. Registration helps protect asylum seekers and refugees against forced return, deportation, arbitrary arrest, and detention.
- After registration, UNHCR issues identity documents to the registered individuals, which may be the only proof of identity many refugees and asylum seekers possess and often help facilitate access to services through UNHCR partners and other available services in the country.
- UNHCR-issued documents do not replace Indian visas. The Government of India has the sole authority to issue visas for entry and stay in India. UNHCR continues to advocate with concerned authorities for regularization of stay for refugees and asylum seekers and to ensure they are not penalized for irregular entry and stay.
- In case asylum seekers and refugees face any legal issues, UNHCR’s legal partner ADRA can help connect them with relevant authorities for legal support or interventions.
- UNHCR advises you to approach the police in the event of any security threat. You can call:
- Emergency number 112 for immediate support from the police or
- 1091 for the women’s helpline or
- 1098 for the ChildLine.
- In case you wish to file a police complaint but are facing problems in doing so, you can contact ADRA for assistance at 011-45705651.
- In case you wish to seek advice on your legal concerns, please contact UNHCR’s partner in your location or ADRA at 011-45705651. UNHCR and partners will work together to address your concerns to the extent possible.
- Please note that UNHCR’s partners and/or ADRA can connect you with relevant authorities such as legal aid services and child protection agencies for legal support. They may not be able to directly intervene in legal proceedings.
- Always keep your visa, passport, original and valid UNHCR refugee card or asylum seeker card with you to prevent escalation of such situations.
- Inform the police or authorities about your refugee status or your asylum application and show your UNHCR documents and any government-issued stay visa/LTV, residence permit and/or passport. Request that the officer verify your UNHCR document using the UNHCR Verify Plus app. You can contact ADRA at 011-45705651 if the authorities have any questions.
- UNHCR works with the Government of India to prevent detention and deportation of refugees and asylum seekers. If you face a threat of detention, are asked to leave India, or are informed that you will be deported, please contact UNHCR’s partner in your location or ADRA immediately at 011-45705651
Please approach the refugee community to help settle the issue amicably. You should also inform the UNHCR partner at your location who can assist in negotiating with your landlord.
The Government of India has enacted the Immigration and Foreigners Act, but it mainly consolidates the existing laws and provisions on immigration and treatment of foreigners.
If you are facing any security concerns such as detention or threat of deportation, please contact UNHCR’s partner in your location or ADRA at 011-45705651.
UNHCR is committed to utilizing all available resources within its mandate to assist refugees and asylum seekers and mobilize all relevant stakeholders to ensure their protection in India.
- UNHCR advocates for the regularization of stay of all refugees and asylum seekers and for the issuance of valid documentation by the Government of India.
- UNHCR advocates for the use of alternatives to detention of refugees and asylum seekers, as well as for access to those in detention. Additionally, UNHCR and partners provide legal and other assistance to refugees and asylum seekers in detention as well as their families, and conduct appropriate emergency interventions when necessary.
- UNHCR works to ensure refugees and asylum seekers’ access to basic services and their inclusion in national systems through advocacy with relevant stakeholders, including government authorities at the national and local levels.
- UNHCR advocates for the issuance of exit permits for refugees and asylum seekers departing India for resettlement or complementary pathways, and for the waiver of overstay penalties.