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Question

Discuss the different types of 'Asylum' and make a distinction between Territorial and Extraterritorial Asylum.

This question was previously asked in
UPSC CSE 2025 (Prelims) CSAT Official Paper (25-May-2025)

Asylum in international law refers to protection granted by a state to individuals fleeing their home country due to persecution or fear of persecution. It is grounded in the principle of non-refoulement, which prevents a state from returning an individual to a territory where they face a credible threat.

Types of Asylum:

  1. Territorial Asylum: The most common form, granted within the asylum-granting state’s territory. The individual physically enters the state (often at a border or port) and seeks protection. Once granted, they receive residence rights and protection from deportation to their country of origin. Territorial asylum is a sovereign act, based on domestic laws and international obligations such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.
  2. Extraterritorial Asylum (Diplomatic Asylum): Granted within a state’s embassy, legation, or consulate located in foreign territory. The diplomatic mission is considered inviolable under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This form is usually reserved for political offenders, is regionally recognized (e.g., Latin America), and often requires negotiation for safe passage out of the host country.

Distinction:

  • Location: Territorial asylum is within the sovereign territory of the granting state; extraterritorial asylum is within a diplomatic mission in another state.
  • Legal Basis: Territorial asylum is widely recognized through general international law and the Refugee Convention; extraterritorial asylum relies on regional custom, bilateral agreements, or specific treaties.
  • Nature of Protection: Territorial asylum confers legal residence and full protection; extraterritorial asylum provides temporary sanctuary and protection from host authorities but not automatic residency.

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