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Asylum Application

DjiboutiHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

Asylum (international protection) decided through refugee status determination (RSD): an administrative procedure in which the Government of Djibouti determines whether a person seeking asylum is a refugee under national and international law; chapters II, III, IV and V of the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugee status apply to refugees and asylum seekers in Djibouti as regards fundamental rights.

See recorded sources

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

Covers anyone who fears returning to their country of origin (or, if stateless, previous country of residence) because of a risk of serious harm linked to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, or who is fleeing war, torture, or inhuman and degrading treatment.

See recorded sources
  • UNHCR Djibouti, Applying for Asylum, intro
    Si vous craignez de retourner dans votre pays d’origine (ou dans votre pays de résidence précédente si vous êtes apatride) parce que vous risquez de subir un préjudice grave pour des raisons liées à votre race, religion, nationalité, opinion politique ou appartenance à un groupe particulier social ou que vous fuyez la guerre, la torture ou les traitements inhumains et dégradants, vous pouvez demander l’asile

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

A direct request made in person: to apply for asylum one must go to ONARS's main office in Djibouti City or to the border posts; law-enforcement or state administration officers can direct anyone wishing to apply to these places. Every asylum seeker must present themselves to the competent authorities within thirty (30) days of entering national territory to lodge the claim. No document is required to apply, though presenting any identity or other relevant document is strongly encouraged.

See recorded sources
  • https://help.unhcr.org/djibouti/asile/
    Pour demander l’asile à Djibouti, il faut se rendre au bureau principal de l’ONARS à Djibouti Ville ou aux postes frontières. Les agents des forces de l’ordre ou ceux de l’administration de l’Etat peuvent orienter toute personne qui veut demander l’asile, à ces endroits.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/djibouti/droits/
    Tout demandeur d’asile doit se présenter aux autorités compétentes dans un délai de trente (30) jours, à compter du moment de son entrée sur le territoire national, pour présenter sa requête.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/djibouti/asile/
    Bien qu’aucun document ne soit exigé pour demander l’asile, la présentation de toute pièce d’identité et autre document pertinent (état civil, éducation, documentation professionnelle, permis de conduire etc.) est vivement encouragée.

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

After the claim is lodged the applicant is called to a registration interview (identification, place of origin, reasons for flight); registration enters data in the proGres database and fingerprints and retinal prints in the BIMS biometric system. The head of household must attend registration with family members and report every family member, present or absent, or their later registration may be rejected. Duly registered asylum seekers receive an ONARS attestation valid six months, renewable, which serves as provisional authorisation to stay and work; asylum seekers have access to basic social services subject to available resources. Because of a large backlog, it currently takes several months to several years to get an interview and a decision; while awaiting a final decision the applicant may remain in Djibouti. A rejected applicant receives a notification with the grounds and has a right of appeal to the Commission de recours, but the appeal procedure is not yet implemented.

See recorded sources

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

Asylum is the responsibility of the Government through the Office National d'Assistance aux Réfugiés et Sinistrés (ONARS), under the Ministry of the Interior, which registers and processes all asylum claims and issues identity cards and attestations, with UNHCR support. All registration, documentation and RSD services, and any other UNHCR or partner service, are free of charge; fraud or attempted fraud, or corruption by UNHCR or partner staff, must be reported to the UNHCR Representation in Djibouti or the Office of the Inspector General at UNHCR headquarters.

See recorded sources
  • https://help.unhcr.org/djibouti/asile/
    À Djibouti, l’asile incombe au Gouvernement via l’Office National d’Assistance aux Réfugiés et Sinistrés (ONARS), sous le Ministère de l’intérieur, qui assure et coordonne la protection et l’assistance aux demandeurs d’asile et aux réfugiés. L’ONARS enregistre et traite de toutes les demandes d’asile et délivre les cartes d’identité et les attestations pour les demandeurs d’asile et les réfugiés, avec l’appui du HCR.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/djibouti/asile/
    Tous les services liés à l’enregistrement, la documentation, la DSR ainsi que tout autre service fourni par le HCR ou ses partenaires sont gratuits . En cas de fraude ou tentative de fraude de la part d’un réfugié, ou en cas de corruption commise par un membre du personnel du HCR ou d’une organisation partenaire, vous devez le rapporter à la représentation du HCR au Djibouti ou au bureau de l’Inspecteur Général au Siège du HCR.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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