1st Edition

Transnational Asylum Toward a Principled Framework

By Nikolas Feith Tan Copyright 2025
208 Pages
by Routledge

208 Pages
by Routledge

208 Pages
by Routledge

This book presents an original framework of transnational asylum to inform future cooperation between states on asylum processing and refugee protection. The book provides scholarly guidance on how policies can be undertaken in a way that conforms with the rights of asylum seekers and refugees under international law, asking if transnational asylum offers a workable model for lawful... Read more

1. Introduction

2. The transnational asylum framework

3. International law

4. Pre-entry processing

5. Third country processing

6. Third country protection

7. Implementing transnational asylum

Biography

Nikolas Feith Tan is Senior Lecturer at Melbourne Law School in Australia and former Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for Human Rights. He is also Visiting Professor at the MOBILE Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Senior Research Affiliate at the University of London's Refugee Law Initiative, UK.

“This groundbreaking book introduces a fresh perspective on asylum cooperation between states. Nikolas Feith Tan develops an innovative framework of transnational asylum that carefully balances the control interests of states and obligations under human rights and refugee law. By addressing short comings of existing approaches and emphasising genuine cooperation, the work paves the way for a more equitable and effective refugee protection regime. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this book is a must read for scholars, policy makers, asylum advocates and practitioners.”

Daniel Ghezelbash, University of New South Wales, Australia

"Highlighting the vital need for reinforced international protection to address refugee protection challenges, Nikolas Feith Tan’s work provides important new insights and ideas around how States can work more effectively together, in ways which uphold and recognize the enduring relevance and applicability of the 1951 Convention.  It represents a comprehensive and timely contribution to work and discussions on ensuring access to international protection for those who need it in today’s dynamic and complex global context, and will be of great interest to academics, policy-makers, international organizations and others working in the field."

Madeline GarlickChief, Protection Policy and Legal Advice, Division of International Protection, UNHCR

"...Tan has delivered a provocative set of prescriptions that no one working in this area can afford to ignore. I strongly recommend this volume for legal academics and practitioners engaged with asylum and refugee policy as well as those interested in deportation, migrant detention, and shared sovereignty."

David Scott FitzGeraldUniversity of California San Diego, USA. Book Review in International Journal of Refugee Law, 2026, 00, 1–3.