Nearly one million refugees found legal ways to reach safety in 38 countries over the past five years, according to a new report, released today by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The figure comes from a new report tracking refugees from eight countries with high asylum recognition rates who got entry permits between 2019 and 2023. Last year alone saw nearly 255,000 permits issued—the highest number since tracking began in 2010.
The numbers show refugees don’t need special programs to find safety—they just need better access to systems that already exist. Most permits (63%) were for family reunification, letting refugees join relatives who had already made it to safety. Work permits made up 19% and study permits 18%, with all categories growing compared to previous years.
Countries like Germany, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden led these efforts by opening their doors to refugees through regular migration channels. Together, they’ve gotten the international community more than halfway to a goal of issuing 2.1 million permits as part of the Global Compact on Refugees strategy to expand legal routes for people fleeing persecution.
UNHCR’s Ruven Menikdiwela said these programs help refugees become independent and build stable futures instead of relying on humanitarian aid. He emphasized that countries don’t need to create separate systems for refugees—they just need to give them flexible access to existing migration pathways.
Displacement is at record levels while asylum systems face growing pressure and limited resources. UNHCR wants countries to make it easier for refugees to access legal pathways by fixing problems with documentation and skills certification, and building stronger partnerships with businesses, schools, and community groups to create more opportunities for people seeking safety.
