Resettlement
Resettlement involves a voluntary, safe and regulated transfer of people in need of international protection from the country where they are registered (either with UNHCR or with host government authorities) to another country which has agreed to admit them as refugees.
Resettlement is intended as a long-term solution. It may offer a pathway for refugees to eventually become citizens in their new country, although the process can take several years.
Please note that there is no resettlement programme to a third country from the Republic of Korea.
The Korean government provides asylum-seekers with a refugee status determination procedure.
Resettlement places offered to UNHCR by various countries are extremely limited. For those limited places, UNHCR prioritises extremely vulnerable individuals who are in very dangerous or unstable situations in countries which do not provide such persons with any legal status or assistance.
Therefore, asylum-seekers and refugees in the Republic of Korea who wish to travel or migrate to a third country should follow the relevant procedures and requirements for visa application to that country. UNHCR does not provide any letter of referral or confirmation of refugee status to individuals in Korea.
For further general information on resettlement, please see UNHCR’s resettlement webpage.