New Legal Travel Routes Open for Refugees in Kenya
Kakuma, 12 September 2026
UNHCR Kenya has updated guidelines on complementary pathways, enabling Kakuma refugees to relocate to third countries through jobs, education, and family reunification rather than traditional resettlement.
Understanding Complementary Pathways
As of September 2026, complementary pathways represent safe, regulated, and lawful avenues designed for individuals in need of international protection to secure a legal stay in a third country [1]. Unlike traditional refugee resettlement, which is heavily reliant on UNHCR referral systems, these alternative pathways are managed directly by destination-country organisations and governments [1]. To expand these admission options, UNHCR collaborates globally with governments, civil society, the private sector, and academic institutions [1]. These pathways allow refugees to build sustainable futures by leveraging their own skills, qualifications, or family connections [1].
Educational and Professional Opportunities
Among the primary options available to refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei are labour mobility schemes and complementary education pathways [1]. Labour mobility programmes allow qualified individuals to obtain temporary or permanent residence in a third country based on specific job offers or sector-specific labour shortages [1]. This framework ensures that an individual’s professional skills are utilised while their international protection needs are met [1]. Similarly, complementary education pathways facilitate higher education opportunities where admission is based on academic and language proficiency rather than protection needs [1]. These educational initiatives are designed to provide long-term, durable solutions through regular migration or asylum systems, rather than serving as short-term scholarships [1].
Family Reunification and Private Sponsorship
Other critical pathways include family reunification and private sponsorship programmes [1]. Family reunification options are typically restricted to members of the nuclear family [1]. Private sponsorship, on the other hand, allows individuals, community groups, or organisations to directly identify, select, and support the entry and stay of displaced persons [1]. This model often focuses on family members or individuals already known to the sponsoring community, effectively bypassing traditional UNHCR referral mechanisms [1]. Because these pathways are managed by destination-country entities, sponsors play a direct role in identifying and supporting the entrants throughout their relocation journey [1].
Navigating Eligibility and Departure Approvals
Eligibility requirements for these pathways are program-specific and determined entirely by the managing organisation and the destination government [1]. While some programs accept asylum-seekers whose status determination is still pending, others strictly require official, recognised refugee status [1]. Furthermore, the Government of Kenya requires specific authorisation for departure for any individual accepted into third-country complementary pathways [1]. This departure authorisation is typically granted to recognised refugees, though asylum-seekers may be approved on a case-by-case basis [1]. UNHCR has committed to assisting any individual accepted into a complementary pathway to secure the necessary exit authorisation from the Kenyan government [1].