About Complementary Pathways

Complementary pathways for admission are migration pathways with refugee-specific flexibilities built in that allow refugees and others in need of international protection to access work, study and other opportunities outside of their country of asylum, while their international protection needs are respected. ​They can also take the shape of programs created specifically for refugees and others in need of international protection to access opportunities internationally.​ 

These pathways promote refugee agency, self-reliance and capacity to eventually attain permanent solutions since refugees and asylum-seekers can apply directly for complementary pathway opportunities under country-specific programs and a UNHCR referral is not required. 

Complementary pathways fall broadly into four categories:  

• Rights/dependency-based (travel for family reunification of immediate or extended family members based on a right to family life and the principle of family unity);  

• Qualifications/skills-based (travel for work or study, or for sport and the arts, academic research, and other pursuits);  

• Needs-based (including evacuations from high-risk areas; short stay arrangements during natural disasters, etc.); and  

• sponsorship-based (when extended family members, communities and others in destination countries identify and support visa applications and then offer settlement support).  

For more information about complementary pathways, please visit the UNHCR Global Complementary Pathways website. 

To request an UNHCR-issued Exit Support Letter for any complementary pathways, kindly submit the following information via email on [email protected] for all departing family members: 

• Copy of UNHCR Registration Certificate/Card, 

• Copy of Destination Country Visa 

• Copy of Flight Ticket 

• Contact Details including email address and phone/WhatsApp number. 

After you have shared the listed information, kindly wait for UNHCR to process your request. You may follow up by contacting the email ID or contact number shared below. While booking your flight tickets, please also keep in mind that the FRRO usually takes a minimum of four weeks to process an exit permit request; therefore, please allow enough time before your date of departure. 

For any complementary pathways related queries, you may write to us at [email protected] or call +91 73038 81690. For any other queries or concerns you can contact our local implementing partners.​ Their details are available on https://help.unhcr.org/india/contact-details-of-unhcr-and-partner-organizations-in-india/.  

DISCLAIMER:

UNHCR is not involved in processing complementary pathways applications in any way whatsoever as these are independent third-country programs, and UNHCR also cannot request third countries to expedite any applications. Third countries establish their own competitive criteria for complementary pathways and independently decide who will be admitted to their territories.

VIDEO BY UNHCR: How can refugees move to a third country?

NOTE ON FRAUD AND INTEGRITY

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 access to services and assistance provided by UNHCR and partners.  

• If you have information about UNHCR staff, or staff of UNHCR partners or contractors involved in fraud, misconduct, exploitation (including sexual exploitation), or sexual abuse, report it immediately and directly to UNHCR’s Inspector-General’s Office (IGO) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Inspector General’s Office (IGO) provides independent assurance and oversight of UNHCR’s activities and operations. You may contact the IGO via email: [email protected]; the online complaint form available at https://help.unhcr.org/india/reporting-fraud-exploitation-or-abuse/, confidential fax: +41 22 739 7380 or by mail: UNHCR, 94 Rue de Montbrillant, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.  

• If you want to report fraud or exploitation committed by a refugee or community leader, please send an email with your complaint to UNHCR India at [email protected] or through the the online complaint form available at https://help.unhcr.org/india/reporting-fraud-exploitation-or-abuse/.