UNHCR Guidelines on international legal standards relating to family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection

UNHCR issues these Guidelines pursuant to its mandate as contained in, inter alia, the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, particularly its competence to supervise the application of international conventions for the protection of refugees in accordance with paragraph 8(a), in conjunction with Article 35 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and Article II of its 1967 Protocol.

These Guidelines have benefited from comprehensive research and broad consultations. These Guidelines set out international legal standards concerning family reunification and relevant procedures for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection.

These Guidelines are intended to provide guidance to governments in developing and implementing legislation, policies and programmes regarding family reunification of refugees and beneficiaries of complementary forms of international protection and temporary protection or stay arrangements. They are also intended to assist decision-makers, including administrative and judicial bodies, in making decisions regarding access to family reunification for the aforementioned persons. These Guidelines also aim to assist other international and national entities and actors including civil society; lawyers; private sector organizations and enterprises; national human rights institutions; as well as UNHCR and other UN agencies, funds and programmes dealing with family reunification for refugees and other beneficiaries of international protection.