Resettlement

Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another State that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent settlement.

UNHCR is mandated by its Statute and the UN General Assembly Resolutions to undertake resettlement as one of the three durable solutions. Resettlement is the only durable solution that involves the relocation of refugees from an asylum country to a third country. There were 20.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around the world at the end of 2019, but less than one per cent of refugees are resettled each year. Over the past 10 years, just over one million refugees were resettled, compared to 3.9 million refugees who returned to their country. Thus, for every refugee resettled since 2010, approximately 4 have repatriated.

Resettlement is used to assist refugees in countries that cannot provide them with appropriate protection and support. Of all cases submitted by UNHCR in 2019, 76 per cent were for survivors of torture and/or violence, people with legal and physical protection needs, and particularly vulnerable women and girls. Just over half (52%) of all resettlement submissions concerned children.

Only a small number of States take part in UNHCR’s resettlement programme. In recent years, the United States has been the world’s top resettlement country, with Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Nordic countries also providing a sizeable number of places annually.

Resettlement States provide refugees with legal and physical protection, including access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals. Governments and non-governmental organization partners may also provide services to facilitate integration, such as cultural orientation, language and vocational training, as well as programmes to promote access to education and employment.

Learn more about the resettlement of refugees around the world

Resettlement of Refugees from Israel

Resettlement spots offered by receiving countries are very limited. In 2019, over 81,600 resettlement applications were submitted by UNHCR for consideration worldwide, and 63,600 refugees were resettled. Priority for spots is given to refugees in countries and regions that are least capable of providing the protection and assistance that refugees require.

In Israel, the number of refugees is small in comparison to other countries, and the State does not lack the financial means to support the refugee population. Still, UNHCR has assisted in the resettlement of refugees out of Israel as an exceptional measure, often for people in life-threatening medical condition, survivors of torture lacking timely and effective rehabilitation services, children with special needs and women at risk. UNHCR Israel works closely with its local partner organizations to identify refugees that may qualify for resettlement.

Since 2009, UNHCR Israel has resettled over 1,000 refugees, mostly to Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States.

In 2019, there were 289 spots available for refugees to be resettled out of Israel.

Complementary Pathways

In light of the limited resettlement opportunities, UNHCR may assist, where appropriate, with complementary pathways to provide long term solutions for asylum seekers and refugees.

Documents and Resources

• Information on Resettlement for Asylum Seekers in Israel (2024) – see information in Arabic, Tigrinya and Hebrew
• UNHCR Israel Fact Sheet on Resettlement (2019)
• Warning against Resettlement Fraud (2019)
• The Integration of Resettled Refugees (2013)
• UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, Chapter Six (2011)
• Note on resettlement of refugees with special needs – EC/48/SC/CRP.28 (1998)

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