Complementary Pathways are safe ways for refugees and asylum seekers to enter and stay in a third country, where their international protection needs are met.
Complementary Pathways are distinct and additional to resettlement. Third countries establish competitive criteria and decide who is admitted to their territories. Refugees and asylum seekers can apply directly for pathway opportunities, and a UNHCR referral is not required.
Such opportunities may be:
To know more about available opportunities, and eligibility criteria, please check the below section to view UNHCR Jordan Complementary pathways verified opportunities. The section contains links to websites for programs for which UNHCR is aware that refugees have successfully accessed from Jordan.
UNHCR’s role involves counseling and sharing information on verified opportunities, criteria and application processes. UNHCR may also follow up with partners and support with documentation in some cases.
You may encounter fraud and scam attempts; however, to avoid any of them, please take the following into consideration:
Please note that ALL services provided by UNHCR, including registration, are provided for FREE. For more on reporting fraud, abuse and exploitation, please click here.
Please beware of individuals claiming false affiliation to UNHCR and/or its partners including outside the UNHCR Office or on various social media platforms. Do not trust anyone who claims to provide services on behalf of UNHCR including resettlement and complementary pathways in exchange for money or favors.
Unlike resettlement, for some pathways, application fees for visas and other administrative procedures may apply. It is very important to check and verify the source of any fee request before making a payment.
More information about the opportunities:
Family Reunification Procedures
What is refugee family reunification?
Family reunification brings together family members living in different countries. Refugee family reunification is where a family was separated and at least one member of the family was recognized as a refugee, or complementary protection holder, by the country he/she lives in. This refugee can then apply for his/her family to join them in that country.
Can I apply for family reunification?
Once your family member in the third country receives refugee or complementary protection status, they can then apply for eligible family members to join them. They will then have the status of a “sponsor” or “petitioner” for you if you are an eligible family member.
The family members eligible for family reunification depends on the country where the sponsor lives. Most national laws allow for spouses, parents of minor children and dependent children to reunify with the sponsor. In some countries other dependent family members can also apply. Eligible family members are often referred to as “applicants”.
Upon acceptance and issuance of relevant visas, families may travel to be reunited with their sponsor. On arrival they will be granted a residence permit (the type of permit differs between countries).
Be mindful that specific deadlines and procedures apply, depending on the country where the sponsor resides.
Which countries have family reunification programmes for refugees?
Dedicated refugee family reunification procedures exist in most countries.
For more information on country-specific criteria and how to apply, please go to the Family Reunification sections for the destination country of the UNHCR help website. If you are seeking information about a family reunification program in a country that is not listed on the UNHCR’s help website, please search for “family reunification” on the government website of the related country.
To access legal assistance for family reunification procedures, you can apply for help from the International Refugee Assistance Project through this form. All services provided by IRAP are free of charge.
Labor Mobility Pathways
What are Labor Mobility Pathways?
Employment pathways, otherwise known as labor mobility opportunities, are safe and regulated avenues that allow qualified refugees to enter or stay in another country to work, providing them with the right to either permanent or temporary residence. Thanks to these pathways, refugees can be safely admitted to a third country based on a concrete job offer or specific sector labor shortages while having their protection needs met and their rights safeguarded.
Labor mobility programmes may be part of traditional immigration systems adapted to facilitate the admission of refugees with requisite skillsets on different levels. They may also include temporary and permanent skilled entry arrangements to support refugees. For programmes of this type to be sustained, it is essential to ensure proper travel documentation for legal entry and stay arrangements. Relevant protection safeguards throughout and following the duration of the refugees’ employment and adequate access to information on access to a durable solution are equally important.
UNHCR Jordan has worked with Talent Beyond Boundaries, who work to connect employers with refugees, open migration pathways, and scale displaced talent mobility
To check available opportunities, please visit Talent Beyond Boundaries Opportunities Page . To apply for an opportunity, please register for the Talent Catalogue and then go back to the opportunities page to apply for a specific opportunity.
Additional opportunities may also be found on country specific websites:
- Germany – Make it in Germany
- UK – Displaced Talent Mobility Pilot
- Canada – Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
Registration in Talent Beyond Boundaries’ online platform and TBB’s services are free of charge for all candidates.
Training and guidance to support applications for labor opportunities:
Education Pathways
What are Education Pathways?
Complementary education pathways are higher education opportunities through which refugees are admitted to a third country, i.e., a country other than their country of origin and the first country in which they have sought protection. Access of the refugees to these opportunities is based on their education and language skills as opposed to their protection needs. Education opportunities offered through such pathways should allow for a long-term solution through a regular migration system or asylum system in the new country instead of short-term study and scholarship programmes.
These opportunities contribute to refugees’ economic and social empowerment while increasing their agency and self-reliance.
At the same time, they benefit host communities and institutions with a more prosperous academic environment, enhanced social cohesion, and improved academic infrastructure and resources.
Third country education programmes may be part of traditional immigration systems adapted to facilitate the admission of refugees with requisite skillsets on different levels. For programmes of this type to be sustained, it is essential to ensure proper travel documentation for legal entry and stay arrangements. Relevant protection safeguards throughout and following the study duration and subsequent access to information on access to a durable solution are equally important.
Available opportunities worldwide are contained in the UNHCR Scholarship Opportunities for Refugees
Programs operating from Jordan:
Private Sponsorship Pathways
What are Private Sponsorship Pathways?
Private sponsorship programmes provide individuals, groups of individuals or organizations with an opportunity to sponsor refugees to come to their country, thus offering them protection and a new home.
In private sponsorship, the sponsors directly engage in the efforts to admit displaced persons in their country. They are the ones identifying, selecting, and supporting the entry and stay of people in need of international protection, who are not referred by UNHCR.
While sponsors can freely choose whom to support, the individuals sponsored most often include nuclear and/or extended family members of the sponsors or people known to the community.
Programs operating from Jordan: