Resettlement is the transfer from the first country of asylum (i.e. Morocco), to another country which has agreed to admit the individual/family and provide permanent residence (the Resettlement State) to her/him/them.

Resettlement is available for refugees whose life, liberty, safety, health or fundamental human rights are at risk in their country of asylum.

Resettlement is an option available only to recognized refugees.

UNHCR identifies the most vulnerable refugees to consider them for resettlement. Each case is considered and reviewed on its individual parameters and is not linked to the date of registration with UNHCR or arrival in Morocco.

Resettlement is not a right. Only a small number of the most vulnerable refugees are considered for resettlement.

Globally, the resettlement needs are high, but the available slots are limited as it benefits less than 1% of the refugee population worldwide. Given the above, it is crucial that refugees understand that one may never be able to access this option and hence should work towards self-reliance in Morocco if the option for safe and sustainable return to the country of origin is currently not available.

If your case is identified as potentially in need of resettlement, you will be contacted by UNHCR and invited for an interview. If you are interviewed for resettlement, there is no guarantee that you will be resettled.

If your case is found eligible for resettlement, it will then be referred to a resettlement country for review, you will receive a phone call from UNHCR informing that your case was submitted, specifying the country of resettlement.

UNHCR will contact you by phone at each stage of the resettlement process. Therefore, it is very important to keep UNHCR updated of your contact details, particularly your phone number.

While UNHCR identifies refugees for resettlement and interviews them to assess their eligibility, the final decision to accept a refugee for resettlement rests with resettlement countries and not with UNHCR.

Having a resettlement interview does not guarantee you will be accepted for resettlement and departure.

Resettlement is a process with many different steps. It may take several months to more than a year for a Resettlement country to make a decision and for departure, depending on the resettlement state and its procedures.

Some resettlement countries undertake further interviews with refugees in the resettlement pipeline, and others do not. You will be required to undergo medical check-ups and will receive further information from the resettlement country and IOM prior to departure. UNHCR will be in contact with you throughout the resettlement process.

If your case is rejected by the resettlement country, you will be contacted by the resettlement country and/or UNHCR to inform you accordingly.

If your resettlement case is rejected by the resettlement country, this does not affect your situation in Morocco as a refugee under UNHCR’s protection. It also does not affect any assistance that you may be receiving from UNHCR.

If you believe that your case will need extra attention due to your situation of heightened vulnerability, please call the UNHCR Resettlement Counselling Line on Thursdays at +212(0)6 61 48 68 81 from 9 to 13 on Thursdays.

If you have an active Resettlement case, UNHCR will contact you during the different stages of the resettlement process, but if you want to be updated on your case, contact us:

• By calling the Hotline Protection:  +212 6 61 48 68 81.

No, it is not! All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge. If somebody asks you for money for a service or resettlement, please report it to [email protected].

The email will be opened confidentially by two senior staff, the focal point and backup for fraud-related matters at UNHCR Rabat.

No. Resettlement is not an application-based process. UNHCR protection colleagues continually review the situation of refugees in the most vulnerable situations and assess if they meet UNHCR’s resettlement criteria. If your case is under resettlement consideration, UNHCR will contact you.

Resettlement is not a right and does not apply to everyone granted refugee status. 

Resettlement is a long process. It may take months or years, depending on the resettlement countries and their assessment procedures, as well as finding suitable accommodation for refugees.