UNHCR regularly provides recommendations and guidance for governments, legal practitioners, decision-makers and the judiciary as well as its own staff carrying out refugee status determination in the field with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the relevant legal protection framework and implementation practices.

A key reference document is the UNHCR Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status meant for the guidance of government officials of the states parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol.

UNHCR recommendations to the incoming EU Presidencies seek to provide a constructive input and express the particular priorities in finding durable solutions for refugees on which the Presidency country of the European Union is encouraged to show leadership during its term.