Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is the legal or administrative process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee under international, regional or national law.
The determination of refugee status is often a critical step in order to access an array of rights, including protection against Refoulement. In Egypt, UNHCR is mandated by the Government of Egypt to determining refugee status since 1954.
Globally, UNHCR works closely with states to support and capacitate them in taking over increased responsibility for RSD and with improving their RSD systems.
Within the broader framework of the Global Compact on Refugees that was adopted by the UN General Assembly on the 17th of December 2018, UNHCR will be establishing an Asylum Capacity Support Group, which will assist states in establishing or strengthening their national asylum systems.