Who is a refugee? Who is an asylum seeker?

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The term ‘asylum seeker’ is often used interchangeably with ‘refugee’, but means something different under law. Asylum seekers are the people who have sought protection as a refugee, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been assessed.

However, under international law, a person is a ‘refugee’ as soon as they meet the definition of refugee, whether or not their claim has been assessed. If they are found to be refugees, then they are ‘recognised refugees’.