Subsidiary Protection
Plain English
It's a form of international protection for people who don\'t meet the refugee definition but face a real risk of serious harm at home, like death penalty, torture, or indiscriminate violence in armed conflict.
Why it matters
Subsidiary protection holders get residence rights almost equivalent to refugees. They can work, study, access healthcare, and request family reunification under specific rules.
Common confusion
It\'s separate from refugee status under the Geneva Convention. People often think it\'s a lesser version, but in day-to-day rights inside Italy the practical difference is small.
Official source
Ministero dell'Interno