9. Humanitarian pathways
© UNHCR/Jeoffrey Guillemard
Programmes which offer a pathway for admission to individuals in need of international protection through their identification and transfer from the first country of asylum to a third country where they can enjoy effective protection. Eligibility criteria for such programmes are decided by States, sometimes jointly with other actors in the receiving country, and are discretionary.
Overview
Humanitarian pathways are flexible, effective protection tools that can lead to durable solutions for refugees. Eligibility is determined by each destination State but may be based on humanitarian/protection needs and vulnerability criteria in the country of asylum, family links and other connections to the country or community of destination.
They can take different forms; they often follow an expedited process used to respond to situations of large-scale displacement. Admission under these programmes is often granted on a temporary basis and can be extended through an application for asylum upon arrival. In some situations, humanitarian pathways are also used for persons in urgent need but without verified international protection needs. (ex. migrants in vulnerable situations, extended family members or persons in need of medical assistance and care, and others).
Humanitarian visas may be used as a tool to facilitate admissions for humanitarian pathways or other complementary pathways programmes, such as employment or education opportunities or family reunification. However, they are not an independent complementary pathway—they are simply a tool for admission into another country.
UNHCR’s advocacy in humanitarian pathways
UNHCR’s primary role in humanitarian pathways is focused on advocacy. In particular, UNHCR advocates that: