United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Egypt conducts Refugee Status Determination (RSD). UNHCR Regional Representation has created a guidebook called “Information for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees in Egypt” which provides practical and useful information for asylum seekers and refugees. Information provided in this section is based on this guide book. UNHCR’s Mandate is to ensure the protection of persons who are found to meet the refugee criteria according to relevant international and regional instruments, and together with governments and non-governmental organizations, to seek durable solutions for the problems of refugees. In order to be granted refugee status, you must meet the definition of a refugee set out in the 1951 Refugee Convention as amended by its 1967 protocol. This definition requires that: You left, or remain outside, your country of origin because you have a fear of persecution; The persecution you fear is based on your race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. Your fear is well-founded meaning that the fear you claim to have is not merely subjective or conjectured but has a factual basis. There are other circumstances in which refugee status may be granted. This includes the situation where a person’s life or freedom is seriously threatened because of armed conflict, generalized violence, foreign occupation, aggression or other events in the person’s country of origin which have seriously disturbed the public order. These situations are specifically covered by the broader refugee definition contained in the 1969 OAU Convention. If you believe you meet the above criteria, you may wish to apply for refugee status with UNHCR. A person will be excluded from refugee status if he/she has committed a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity; or is a person who has committed a serious non-political crime outside the country of refuge; or is guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. This means that, irrespective of whether he/she falls within the definition of a refugee, he/she will not be granted refugee status.