{"id":86,"date":"2022-02-25T09:43:09","date_gmt":"2022-02-25T09:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/?page_id=86"},"modified":"2026-05-08T09:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T09:27:02","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/applying-for-asylum\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently asked questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n<div id=\"q-and-a-3\" class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a q-and-a q-and-a--always-open\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=unhcr-help-q-and-a-3 itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\n\n    <div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-1\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-1\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-1\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-1\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">1<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">What is international protection? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n    <div id=\"collapse-qa-4-1\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-1\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n    <div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n    <p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW86546273 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86546273 BCX0\">International protection is a commonly used phrase in European Union law that refers to both refugee and subsidiary protection statuses. A person who claims asylum in <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86546273 BCX0\">Romania<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW86546273 BCX0\"> is seeking international protection from persecution or serious harm in their home country.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW86546273 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-2\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-2\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-2\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-2\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">2<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">Who is a refugee? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-2\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-2\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A refugee is someone who is outside of their country of origin and cannot return because they have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Refugee status is a form of international protection that is granted to people who fall in one of the above-mentioned situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-3\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-3\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-3\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-3\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">3<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">What is subsidiary protection? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-3\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-3\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Subsidiary protection is another form of international protection, complementary to refugee status. It means that someone cannot be returned to their country of origin or habitual residence because they face a real risk of serious harm.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Serious harm means (i) the death penalty or execution; (ii) torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; (iii) serious and individual threat to life by reason of indiscriminate violence in a situation of international or internal armed con\ufb02ict.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-4\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-4\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-4\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-4\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">4<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">What is Statelessness? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-4\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-4\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The international legal definition of a stateless person is \u201ca person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law\u201d. In simple terms, this means that a stateless person does not have the nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, but others become stateless.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Statelessness can occur for several reasons, including discrimination against particular ethnic or religious groups, or on the basis of gender; the emergence of new States and transfers of territory between existing States; and gaps in nationality laws.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-5\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-5\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-5\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">5<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">Can I apply for international protection if I am stateless? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-5\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-5\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\">Yes, you can apply <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\">for asylum<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\"> in <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\">Romania<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\"> if you are stateless and cannot return to your country of habitua<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\">l<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3185505 BCX0\"> residence for protection reasons. Your application will then be examined in relation to your country of habitual residence i.e. the country you previously lived in.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW3185505 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-6\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-6\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-6\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-6\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">6<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">What does non-refoulement mean?<\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-6\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-6\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">This principle means that the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">Romanian authorities <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">cannot <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">deport <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">or return any person, in any manner whatsoever to a territory where<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW74495129 BCX0\">(a) the life or freedom of that person would be threatened for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion or (b) there is a serious risk that the person would be subjected to the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW74495129 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-7\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-7\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-7\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-7\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">7<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">What if I have a disability and\/or other special needs? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-7\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-7\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\">You should inform the <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\">asylum authorities, the General Inspectorate for Immigration,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\"> as soon as possible of any disability or other special needs you may have so that, where feasible, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\">they <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW101327217 BCX0\">can accommodate your needs.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW101327217 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-8\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-8\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-8\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-8\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">8<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">Where will I stay during the asylum procedure? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-8\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-8\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">You will be offered accommodation in <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">one of the 6 Regional Reception Centers<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">, however, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">if<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\"> you have <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">the <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">\ufb01nancial means to <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\">support<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW186351176 BCX0\"> yourself, you are free to live elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW186351176 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-help-unhcr-q-and-a-inner q-and-a-inner accordion-item my-10 active\" id=\"qa-4\" data-item-content=\"q-and-a-item-9\" itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><h3 class=\"accordion-header\" id=\"q-and-a-item-9\"><button class=\"accordion-button bg-info collapsed\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" data-bs-target=\"#collapse-qa-4-9\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse-qa-4-9\"><span class=\"accordion-count\">9<\/span><span class=\"q-and-a__box-title fw-bolder fs-3\">Can UNHCR give me legal advice? <\/span><\/button><\/h3>\n<div id=\"collapse-qa-4-9\" class=\"accordion-collapse collapse\" aria-labelledby=\"q-and-a-item-9\" data-bs-parent=\"\">\n<div class=\"accordion-body py-16 px-20\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\">Unfortunately, due to limited resources and the nature of our role in <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\">Romania<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\">, UNHCR can provide only limited support in relation to individual cases.<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\"> However, we do work with <\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW42634517 BCX0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnrr.ro\/index.php\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW42634517 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">NGO partners<\/span><\/span><\/a> <span class=\"TextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\">who offer free legal counselling<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"TextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\" lang=\"CS-CZ\" xml:lang=\"CS-CZ\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW42634517 BCX0\">throughout the country. <\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW42634517 BCX0\" data-ccp-props='{\"201341983\":0,\"335551550\":6,\"335551620\":6,\"335559739\":160,\"335559740\":259}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":0,"parent":762,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"topics":[],"audiences":[],"class_list":["post-86","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/72"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3719,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions\/3719"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topics?post=86"},{"taxonomy":"audiences","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.unhcr.org\/romania\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/audiences?post=86"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}