Asylum-seekers

An asylum-seeker is someone who is seeking international protection.

At UNHCR, we believe that everyone has a right to seek asylum from conflict and persecution, and we do our best to protect them.

Kholoud, a Syrian asylum-seeker of Palestinian descent, lives in the Closed Controlled Access Centre on Samos Island, Greece, with her two sons. She used to work as a schoolteacher in Syria but fled the country to escape the war. “I want my children to forget about the war in Syria,” she says. “They have lost their father, they have lost their childhood.” She hopes to find safety in Europe and rebuild the family’s life.

Who is an ‘asylum-seeker’?

An asylum-seeker is someone who is seeking international protection. Their request for refugee status, or complementary protection status, has yet to be processed, or they may not yet have requested asylum but they intend to do so.

War, persecution and human rights violations force people to flee their homes. To escape violence or threats to their lives or freedoms, many must leave with just a few moments' notice, carrying little more than the clothes on their backs.

When someone crosses an international border seeking safety, they often need to apply to be legally recognized as a refugee. While they seek asylum and await the outcome of their application, they are referred to as asylum-seekers and should be protected. Not all asylum-seekers will be found to be refugees, but all refugees were once asylum-seekers.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, works to protect asylum-seekers. We try to ensure that they can reach safety and have their claim for asylum heard fairly and efficiently. We advocate for their rights, including education and health care, while they await the outcome of their claim. Long term, we work to strengthen asylum systems and laws.

At the end of 2023, there were approximately 6.9 million people around the world waiting for a decision on their asylum claims.