Refugee Status Determination

Refugee Status Determination (RSD) is the process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee under international, regional or national law. Although States have the primary responsibility for determining refugee status, UNHCR may conduct RSD under its mandate in countries and territories that are not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention, or which have not yet established the legal and institutional framework to support an RSD process.

As Malaysia is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and does not have a national asylum system in place, UNHCR carries out RSD under its mandate in Malaysia. The RSD Unit is the department responsible for carrying out this function.