Asylum in Djibouti: registration and refugee status

You can ask for international protection in Djibouti if you fear serious harm in your country of origin, or your former country of residence if you are stateless, because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, or if you are fleeing war, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment. Refugee status is governed by Law No. 159/AN/16/7th L on the status of refugees.

Go to the ONARS head office in Haramous, Djibouti City, open 09:00 to 17:00, or to a border post; police and civil servants can direct you there. You must report to the authorities within 30 days of entering Djibouti. No document is required to apply, but bringing any identity, civil status, education or professional papers is strongly encouraged.

At the registration interview you answer questions about your identity, where you come from and why you fled. Your data are entered in UNHCR's proGres database and your fingerprints and iris scans in the biometric system BIMS. The head of household must attend with family members and report any absent relatives, or their registration may later be refused.

Refugee status determination is the administrative procedure by which the government of Djibouti decides whether you are a refugee under national and international law. An ONARS eligibility officer interviews you by appointment, in order of arrival except for vulnerable cases, with an interpreter if needed. You may bring a legal representative at your own cost if you tell ONARS in advance.

Because of a large backlog, getting an interview and a decision currently takes from several months to several years. You may remain in Djibouti until a final decision. If your claim is accepted you receive a document proving refugee status.

UNHCR lists the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Djibouti as non-discrimination, freedom of movement, civil status, identity and travel documents, education, work, access to the courts, property, religion, association, social and public assistance and naturalisation. You must respect Djiboutian law and refugees must not engage in destabilising activities against Djibouti or any other state.

Keep your asylum seeker certificate or refugee card valid; ask ONARS or UNHCR to renew it in the month before it expires, and report a lost or stolen document to ONARS for reissue. All services are free, and any request for money should be reported to UNHCR.

A rejected applicant receives a notice giving the reasons and has the right to appeal to the Appeals Commission. UNHCR notes that the appeal procedure has not yet been put into operation, but you can tell ONARS or UNHCR that you intend to appeal.

ONARS is located in Haramous on the Siesta road, opposite the Casino, telephone 21 35 67 51. The UNHCR Representation in Djibouti is at Heron, lot No. 24, IGAD Street, telephone +253 21354271. Fraud or abuse by staff can also be reported confidentially to UNHCR's Inspector General in Geneva.