Resettlement

Resettlement involves the selection & transfer of refugees from a state in which they have sought protection to a third country that has agreed to admit them as refugees, with a permanent residence status.

Resettlement is one of the three durable solutions for refugees that UNHCR is mandated to implement in cooperation with states. It provides a means to protect refugees who cannot locally integrate in their host country or voluntarily repatriate to their country of origin.

The residence status provided to resettled refugees ensures protection against refoulement (being returned a country in which the refugee might face persecution) and provides for a permanent status. Resettlement also carries the opportunity to eventually become a naturalised citizen of the resettlement country.

At SHARE we believe there is considerable scope for growing European resettlement efforts by expanding existing programmes and engaging new countries. However, options for affordable housing remain a significant challenge for programmes to receive refugees within the EU. To address this barrier to growth, we target our support at smaller municipalities and rural territories with more affordable housing options, and engage local political representatives, civil society organisations and community members.

In several countries, community sponsorship programmes are embedded within resettlement programmes. This approach can increase the number of resettlement places and add to national commitments. Together with partners, we seek to widen engagement in community sponsorship for resettlement, which in Europe is still largely faith-based, to encompass a broader and more diverse range of actors. To share successful practices and expertise, we also contribute to the work of the EASO Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Network created in January 2020.

For more information on recent joint EU efforts for resettlement, check out our SHARE graphic series tool published in September 2019 to monitor implementation of the 2018-19 joint EU programme to resettle 50,000 refugees:

The resettlement process

ICMC has a long history of providing operational support for resettlement in refugee-hosting countries. Drawing on this expertise, the work of SHARE addresses the full range of interrelated processes and aspects of the resettlement process, from identifying and referring refugees living in third countries to final settlement and autonomy in local communities in receiving countries. In addition, we have partnered with local communities, helping to create broad and diverse alliances between regional and local authorities, civil society and faith-based organisations, private citizens and refugees themselves, to work together to offer places to receive refugees in their community. Explore the resettlement process in every language: