How can I register and apply for asylum with UNHCR in Morocco?

If you are in Morocco and wish to seek international protection with UNHCR, you must first contact UNHCR and submit a registration request.

During the first contact, we will record information relating to you and your family and why you left your country of origin. This information is collected through a registration form that can be done both in person and remotely. Once completed, you will be given an appointment for a registration interview.

➡️ To submit a registration request with UNHCR, you can:

• Call the UNHCR Registration Helpline between 09:00 and 15:00 and inform that you would like to be registered with UNHCR (Landline: 05 37 54 54 00 (call), WhatsApp: +212 6 66 04 56 06)

OR

• If you are in Rabat, you can approach UNHCR’s office (10 avenue Mehdi Ben Barka, Souissi, Rabat) directly from Monday to Friday between 09:00 to 15:00

OR

• If you are in Oujda or Nador, contact UNHCR’s partner OMDH (+212 (0) 539 32 25 52) and inform them that you are seeking international protection and would like to be registered with UNHCR. You can also approach OMDH’s office in Oujda (Rue Ziyani, 1^st floor, apt #6).

Important to note:

• You do not need to bring your family when you come to submit a registration request.
• If you live outside of Rabat, you do not need to come in person to UNHCR’s office in Rabat to submit a registration request.

ABOUT THE REGISTRATION FORM:

During your first contact, as you submit a registration request, you will be asked to provide the following in the registration form

• Your name
• Date of birth
• Nationality
• Place of birth
• List of family members
• The reasons you left your country of origin and what you believe would happen should you return to your country of origin

The form is available in French, Arabic and English. A UNHCR staff member can assist you in filling out the form. Spouses and adult family members (over 18 years) will each have to fill out a separate form. This step can also be conducted over the phone through the registration helpline or with UNHCR’s partner OMDH.

It is very important that you provide complete and correct information to the best of your knowledge.

Please note that all information shared with UNHCR is confidential.  You will be asked to sign a document to confirm the veracity of your statements and provide a telephone number, email or address at which you can be contacted.

After submitting your registration request with UNHCR, you will be given an appointment for a registration interview. The appointment will be confirmed by text message.

During the registration interview, a UNHCR staff will ask you further questions about the information provided in your registration form, allowing you to provide more information supporting your asylum claim.

Your picture, digital fingerprints and iris scan will be saved in UNHCR’s database. If necessary, you can be assisted by an interpreter. The information collected remains strictly confidential.

During the registration process, you will be asked for identity documents or any other supporting documents. Please note that you can register with UNHCR even if you do not have any documents. Please inform reception if this is the case.

ATTENTION:

• Please always provide your most recent contact details and inform us in case your phone number changes to allow UNHCR to stay in touch with you and keep you informed about changes in your case.
• If you do not have a phone number, please share the phone number of a friend or relative who can help us contact you.

Once registered, UNHCR will provide you and your family members an asylum seeker certificate. You must always keep the original of this document with you and come to UNHCR for its renewal upon expiration.

How can I renew my UNHCR asylum seeker document?

If you live in Rabat and wish to renew your UNHCR document, you can come to UNHCR’s office:

• Address: 10 Avenue Mehdi Ben Barka, quartier Souissi, Rabat.
• Every Tuesdays and Thursdays from 09h to 14h.

If you live outside of Rabat, you do not need to come to UNHCR’s office in Rabat to renew your document, as UNHCR goes to different locations to renew UNHCR documentation of those that do not live in the city. If you need to renew your document, contact the registration Helpline to find out where you can meet UNHCR:

• Call: 05 37 54 54 00
• Call or send a message on WhatsApp: +212 666045606
• Email: [email protected]

Working days: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00.

ATTENTION: Make sure to renew your document before the expiry date.

If you have any questions regarding your document renewal, you can contact UNHCR through the UNHCR Registration helpline.

After registration, UNHCR will contact you for an appointment for a refugee status determination interview (RSD). The appointment will be scheduled considering your registration date and specific circumstances.

During this interview, UNHCR staff will ask you to provide details regarding the reasons and circumstances for leaving your country of origin.

You will be asked to provide details regarding facts, places, dates, motives, fear of persecution, and events that led to your departure and your journey to Morocco, as well if you registered to previous UNHCR offices.

It is very important that you give complete and correct information. Providing false declarations may negatively impact the credibility of your asylum claim.

During this interview, you have the right to:

• Have an interpreter.
• Confidentiality: All your statements will remain strictly confidential.
• Indicate whether you prefer being interviewed by a woman or a man.

At the end of this interview, the staff will give you an appointment for the notification of the decision related to your asylum request.

Your claim will be examined by UNHCR. Information that you gave will be verified and cross-checked with several public sources of information and your claim will be legally analysed.

➡️ How long will it take UNHCR to decide about by asylum claim?

It generally takes one month for a decision to be taken.

If your case is more complex, it may require a complementary interview and taking a decision may take several months.

➡️ You will be notified about the outcome of your claim in person.

• If the decision is positive, you will be recognized as a refugee by UNHCR. You will keep your asylum seeker certificate and will receive information on available protection services through UNHCR and its partners.
• If the decision is negative (your application is rejected), UNHCR will explain the reasons for this decision and the steps to take if you wish to submit an appeal against this decision.

Every asylum-seeker whose claim is rejected in the first instance has the right to appeal against this decision. If you would like to submit an appeal, you should:

• Submit the appeal in writing within 30 days after your notification. An appeal can be submitted directly to the office in Rabat or by email to the address [email protected].
• If you don’t submit an appeal within 30 days, your file will be closed.
• In your appeal request, you should communicate all new information or evidence that you did not communicate to UNHCR in first instance. If necessary, UNHCR will invite you to come for an appeal interview in UNHCR’s office with a different staff member than your initial interviewer.

➡️ If the result of your appeal is positive, you will be recognized as a refugee. In this case, you should keep your asylum seeker certificate and will receive information on available protection services through UNHCR and its partners.

➡️ If the result of your appeal is negative, UNHCR will explain to you the consequences of that rejection for your situation in Morocco and your case will be closed.

UNHCR can close your file:

• If you do not attend your first refugee status determination interview and cannot be reached or do not contact the office within 30 days.
• If you do not attend your refugee status determination interview twice without valid reasons.
• If you do not attend your notification appointment within 30 days after your initial appointment date.
• If you do not renew your UNHCR asylum-seeker certificate within 6 months after expiration date.

It is IMPORTANT to inform UNHCR of any changes in your contact information (address, phone number).