BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee

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Survey of Palestinian Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (2006-2007)
Kuwait in the context of the 1991 Gulf War, the expulsion of Palestinian refugees and the cancellation of their
residency rights by Libya during 1994–1995, and the refusal of Arab host states to admit Palestinian refugees
fleeing war, occupation and persecution in Iraq since 2003. Failure by Arab states to protect against refoulement
has resulted in repeated and protracted emergency situations in which large numbers of Palestinian refugees have
been stranded on borders between countries in the region.
b. Rights to residency and to leave and re-enter
Arab states generally grant residency
permits to Palestinian refugees.
However, residency status varies.
LAS standards and international
law do not require that host states
grant citizenship, and few Palestinian
refugees have acquired citizenship in
Arab host states (with the exception of
refugees in Jordan). Dual nationality
is generally not recognized by LAS
member states.
In Jordan, Palestinian refugees present
on 16 February 1954 were granted
citizenship by administrative decision,
conditional upon the achievement of
a permanent solution in the region in
the future. 103 Those who arrived from
the occupied West Bank and took
up residence in Jordan before 1 June
1983 are eligible for citizenship, but
this is not automatically granted. This
does not apply to the some 100,000
Palestinian refugees who fled the
occupied Gaza Strip during or after
the 1967 war and found shelter in
Jordan, and their descendants. They
are required to renew temporary
residency permits. 104 The same applies
to Palestinian refugees from the
occupied West Bank who entered
Jordan after 1 June 1983. 105
Palestinians on their way across Allenby Bridge to Jordan during the 1967 war. © UNRWA Archives.
Palestinian refugees in Egypt
are subject to three categories of
residence permits: (1) special residence for a period of ten years to those who – prior to 1952 – were born
in Egypt, resided in Egypt for at least twenty years, or performed work or services for the country for more
than five years; (2) ordinary residence for a period of five years to those who had resided in Egypt fifteen
years prior to 1952; (3) temporary residence for a period of one to five years to all other foreigners, including
Palestinian refugees. The majority of Palestinians in Egypt fall within the third category and are considered
foreigners. Palestinians who have stayed in Egypt for more than ten years can renew their residency every
three or five years. Palestinian refugees may lose their residency rights if they stay abroad for longer then