Definitions | |
Asylum-seeker | Individual who is seeking international protection, has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on their asylum application. |
Refugee | A person who has been granted asylum under national legislation. |
Refused asylum-seeker | A person whose asylum application has been unsuccessful and who has no other claim for protection awaiting a decision. Some refused asylum-seekers voluntarily return home, others are forcibly returned. For some, it is not safe or practical to return until conditions in their country change. |
Resettled refugee | A person who has been granted refugee status or another form of humanitarian protection by the UK while abroad and then brought to live in the UK. |
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) | A person under 18 who is applying for asylum in the UK in their own right, is separated from both parents, and is not being cared for by a relative or guardian in the UK. |
Age disputed children | Children or young person whose age is disputed. The Home Office and/or the Local Authority do not believe that these persons are the age they claim to be, and an age assessment process becomes necessary. The local authority is responsible for the determination of age of these children, following guidance published by the Association of Directors of Children’s Services. Social workers estimate the age using a holistic evaluation. While this process is under-way, the young person should be given the benefit of the doubt and considered as a child. |
Migrant | Someone who moves from his or her country of usual residence, regardless of the reason for migration or legal status. |
Note: The definition of asylum-seekers, refugee and migrant are from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Master Glossary of Terms (https://www.unhcr.org/glossary/). The definition of refused asylum-seeker comes from the Refugee Council (https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/information/refugee-asylum-facts/the-truth-about-asylum/). The definition of resettled refugee, UASC and age disputed children are UK specific and comes from the gov.uk website.