Guinea-Bissau

UNHCR works closely with the National Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons (CNRD) in implementing local integration through naturalization. The national refugee laws continue to be revised in order to be consistent with international standards in refugee protection.

Since adopting the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954) and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961) nearly a decade ago, the country has nominated a government focal point on statelessness. In addition, a National Plan of Action (NAP) for the Eradication of Statelessness was elaborated and approved by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights in November 2018).

In 2024 UNHCR continued to work with CNRD to ensure that naturalized persons are mainstreamed into national development plans and have access to national documents such as birth certificates. By June 2025, significant progress was made in the national naturalization process through formally validating naturalized refugees. Approximately 5,000 refugees were confirmed eligible for nationality certificates.

For information about our operation in Guinea-Bissau, please contact us through our Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.