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Protected Family Member of a Recognised Refugee

LiberiaFamily

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

Official link

Which family relationships qualify?

Under the Refugee Act, a 'member of his family' in relation to a refugee means any spouse of the refugee; any unmarried child of the refugee under the age of eighteen years; or any other person related to the refugee by blood or marriage who is dependent upon the refugee.

See recorded sources

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor is a recognised refugee, meaning a refugee recognised in terms of section seven or a member of a class of persons declared to be refugees in terms of subsection (2) of section three. The Minister responsible for the administration of the Immigration Act shall endeavour to ensure that members of the family of a recognised refugee are permitted to enter Liberia and remain.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the evidence needed to prove the family relationship.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched the Refugee Act, 1993 text (sections 2, 7, 11, 12) for evidence of marriage, parentage, custody or dependency; the source defines the qualifying relatives but states no proof requirements.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance requirements.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Searched the Refugee Act, 1993 text for financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance obligations for family members; none stated.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

A family member of a recognised refugee who has entered Liberia is to be issued with an identity card and permitted to remain for as long as the recognised refugee is permitted to remain; family members are 'protected persons'. A family member who ceases to be one by marriage, attaining eighteen years or ending dependence, or after the refugee's death, divorce or legal separation, is permitted to continue to remain. A family member may also apply for recognition as a refugee in his own right. The official source does not describe the application procedure.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source does not describe a high-level application procedure for family members to enter or be registered.
  • https://gac.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Law-of-1972.pdf
    "protected person" means - (a) a member of the family of a recognized refugee; or (b) a person who, in terms of subsection (3) or (4) of section eleven, is permitted to continue to remain within Liberia;
  • https://gac.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Law-of-1972.pdf
    2. A member of the family of a recognized refugee who has entered Liberia shall, subject to the provisions of this Act-- (a) be issued with an identity card in the form prescribed; and (b) subject to the provisions of subsections (3) and (4), be permitted to remain within Liberia for as long as the recognized refugee concerned is permitted so to remain.
  • https://gac.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Law-of-1972.pdf
    3. Where a member of the family of a recognized refugee is within Liberia in terms of this section and ceases to be a member of such family by reason of his marriage, his attaining the age of eighteen years or the cessation of his dependence upon the recognized refugee, as the case may be, he shall be permitted to continue to remain within Liberia in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
  • https://gac.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Law-of-1972.pdf
    4. Upon the death of a recognized refugee or upon his divorce or legal separation from any spouse, every persons who, immediately before such death, divorce or legal separation, was within Liberia in terms of this section as a member of the family of such recognized refugee shall be permitted to continue to remain within Liberia in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
  • https://gac.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Executive-Law-of-1972.pdf
    5. Nothing in this section shall prevent a member of the family of a recognized refugee or a person who has, in terms of sub-section (3) or (4), been permitted to continue to remain in Liberia from himself applying for recognition and being recognized as a refugee in terms of section seven.

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

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