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Third country nationals definition

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Key points
  • Third country nationals (TCNs) are individuals who are generally not refugees and who are stranded in a country that is not their own.
  • Some third country nationals may require refugee protection, where they are not able to return to their country of origin, which is unable or unwilling to protect them from persecution or other serious harm.
  • UNHCR should participate in inter-agency mechanisms to ensure the protection needs of persons of concern to UNHCR are met.
  • In mixed migration flows, distinguish other TCNs from asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons.

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