United KingdomHumanitarian protection
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
An asylum claim made in the UK to stay as a refugee; refugee status means protection under the Refugee Convention.
You must apply for asylum if you want to stay in the UK as a refugee.
Refugee status means someone is protected by the Refugee Convention
People who have left their country and cannot live safely in any part of it because they fear persecution for race, religion, nationality, political opinion or other risk from the social, cultural, religious or political situation (e.g. gender, gender identity or sexual orientation), and who failed to get protection from their own authorities; for stateless people, the country of usual residence. Claims might not be considered from EU nationals or people who travelled through or have a connection to a safe third country.
To stay in the UK as a refugee you must be unable to live safely in any part of your own country because you fear persecution there. If you’re stateless, your own country is the country you usually live in. This persecution must be because of: your race your religion your nationality your political opinion anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, for example, your gender, gender identity or sexual orientation You must have failed to get protection from authorities in your own country. When your claim might not be considered Your claim might not be considered if you: are from an EU country travelled to the UK through a ‘safe third country’ have a connection to a safe third country where you could claim asylum
Asylum is claimed on arrival at the UK border by telling a Border Force officer, or from within the UK by calling the asylum registration appointment line to book a screening appointment; the claim is registered at a screening meeting with an immigration officer. Applicants should claim on arrival or as soon as they think return would be unsafe.
You should apply when you arrive in the UK or as soon as you think it would be unsafe for you to return to your own country. Your application is more likely to be refused if you wait.
You’ll have your screening at the UK border if you claim asylum as soon as you arrive. You can also be screened once you’re in the UK if you become eligible for asylum . At your screening you’ll: be photographed have your fingerprints taken have an interview to check who you are and where you’re from You’ll be asked why you want asylum. You can bring written evidence to support your claim if you want, as well as any other documents you need . You’ll need to say if you or your dependants are taking any medication and give any relevant medical information. A dependant is your partner and any children under 18. You can ask for a male or female interviewer, but your choice might not always be available. Screening at the UK border You must tell a Border Force officer that you want to claim asylum.
Screening if you’re already in the UK Call the asylum registration appointment line to book a screening appointment.
You register your asylum claim at a ‘screening’. This is a meeting with an immigration officer where you tell them about your case.
At screening the applicant is photographed, fingerprinted and interviewed; the Home Office then decides if the claim can be considered in the UK (otherwise the person may be sent to a safe country), issues an asylum registration card (ARC) and, if the case can be considered in the UK, gives it to a caseworker; the asylum interview usually takes place soon after screening, and there are regular reporting events. Partner and children under 18 in the UK can be included as dependants. Applicants are not usually allowed to work while the claim is considered, may get help with legal representation and with living in the UK while waiting, and may be detained.
At your screening you’ll: be photographed have your fingerprints taken have an interview to check who you are and where you’re from
After your screening, the Home Office will review your case and decide whether it can be considered in the UK. You’ll be sent an asylum registration card ( ARC ) to your UK address, unless you’ve been detained. If the Home Office cannot send you an ARC immediately, they’ll send you an appointment letter telling you what to do next. You might also be sent an asylum questionnaire. If you get one, fill it in and return it by the deadline - the address and deadline are written on the letter that comes with the questionnaire. If you cannot fill it in, call the Home Office asylum team. Their phone number is on the letter. The Home Office will contact you about your asylum claim. If your details change, you must contact the Asylum Human Rights Operations ( AHRO ) Central Communications Hub . If your case can be considered in the UK, it will be given to a caseworker.
You’ll need to go to regular meetings with your caseworker. These are known as ‘reporting events’.
You will not usually be allowed to work while your asylum claim is being considered . Help you can get You can get help with: getting legal representation for your asylum claim living in the UK while you wait for your decision
You can include your partner and your children under 18 as ‘dependants’ if they’re with you in the UK.
You may be detained at an immigration removal centre while you wait for a decision on your application.
If your case can be considered in the UK, it will be given to a caseworker. If your case cannot be considered in the UK You may be sent to a safe country that will consider your asylum claim.
Your asylum interview will usually take place soon after your screening.
The competent authority is the Home Office: at the border via a Border Force officer; in the UK via the asylum registration appointment line (0300 123 4193, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Giving false information can lead to up to 2 years in prison or having to leave the UK.
Asylum registration appointment line Telephone: 0300 123 4193 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
You can get up to 2 years in prison or have to leave the UK if you give false information on your application.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
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Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.