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Asylum Registration with RRS and UNHCR

EthiopiaHumanitarian protection

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

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Explore pathways in Ethiopia Read the five questions ↓

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

This is asylum (international protection) in Ethiopia: a person must register with the government (RRS) and go through the asylum process; registration is the first step in seeking international protection after crossing the border into Ethiopia.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Access to asylum and registration for new asylum seekers has been suspended nationwide since November 2021, with a border-entry exception currently limited to Metema and Assosa (see R3).

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

It covers people who left their country because they feared persecution linked to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, and who could not or would not obtain protection from their government.

See recorded sources
  • Asylum in Ethiopia — applicant profile
    Yes, you may apply for asylum in Ethiopia if you have left your country of origin due to a well-founded fear of persecution on account of your race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, and if you are unable or unwilling to avail yourself of the protection of your country.

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

Under Ethiopian refugee law an asylum seeker must apply in person within 30 days to the nearest Refugees and Returnees Services office, immigration office or police station; the Agency may allow an application through another person if circumstances beyond the applicant's control prevent it. Since the November 2021 nationwide state of emergency, access to asylum and registration for new asylum seekers has remained suspended, except for persons fleeing emergency conflict through border entry points; registration currently takes place only at the Metema and Assosa entry points for persons escaping the conflict in Sudan.

See recorded sources
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    According to the Ethiopian Refugee Law, a person seeking asylum in the territory of the country shall, within thirty (30) days, apply in person to the nearest Refugees and Returnees Services office, immigration office or police station.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    The Agency may permit a person to submit their application for refugee status through another person if they are unable to do so themselves due to circumstances beyond their control.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    Since the declaration of a nationwide state of emergency in Ethiopia in November 2021, access to asylum and registration activities for new asylum seekers has remained suspended. However, an exception has been made for persons fleeing emergency conflict situations and entering through border entry points. Currently, registration is taking place only in the Metema and Assosa entry points for persons escaping the conflict in Sudan.

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

At registration RRS and UNHCR record bio data (name, sex, age, family composition), the reasons for leaving and biometrics (photo, iris, fingerprints). Registration provides legal recognition and protection against deportation or refoulement and grants access to essential services including food, shelter, healthcare and legal assistance. Only after registration is the asylum application considered and processed; registration also lets UNHCR identify people needing additional support and refer them to services.

See recorded sources
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    During Registration, the RRS and UNHCR will record basic information about you, such as: Your bio data (name, sex, age, family composition) Reasons why you left your country Your biometrics for identification purposes (photo, Iris and fingerprints)
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    Through the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) and UNHCR, registration provides legal recognition and protection under international law, safeguarding you from deportation or refoulement to countries where you may face persecution. It also grants access to essential services, including food, shelter, healthcare, and legal assistance, while helping the government monitor individuals for safety and prevent exploitation.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    Only after you are registered is your asylum application for refugee status considered by the government of Ethiopia and UNHCR and starts being processed.
  • https://help.unhcr.org/ethiopia/asylum/
    It is also through registration that UNHCR can identify if you are a person who needs additional support or assistance and refer you to the appropriate services.

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

The official help route is registration with RRS or UNHCR.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state a complete current contact channel or service-level timetable.

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

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