Safe pathways for refugees take various forms, such as traditional resettlement and a number of complementary pathways. Together they offer crucial instruments of protection alongside codified rights of refuges and asylum seekers. Safe pathways for refugees are high on the agenda and come with a number of political claims that require closer scrutiny. They have many advantages but also carry the risk of undermining access to territorial asylum. A protection-focused framing of policy and selection of target groups and regions is therefore vital to preserve the original character of resettlement as an instrument of solidarity and a durable solution for refugees.