Definition: Asylum-seeker

Category: Demography

Person who applies for protection under Article 1 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 28 July 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of 31 January 1967. This definition generally refers to all who apply for protection on an individual basis, irrespective of whether they lodge their application on arrival at an airport or land border, or from inside the country, and irrespective of whether they entered the territory legally (e.g. as a tourist) or illegally. Most Member States record applications of individuals. Some record only cases. National totals may include repeat applications.