Humanitarian protection

327EA. Under this Part, a claim for humanitarian protection is a request by a person for international protection due to a claim that if they are removed from or required to leave the UK, they would face a real risk of suffering serious harm (as defined in paragraph 339CA) in their country of origin, and they are unable, or owing to such risk, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country.

339CA. For the purposes of paragraph 339C, serious harm consists of: (i) the death penalty or execution; (ii) unlawful killing; (iii) torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of a person in the country of origin; or (iv) serious and individual threat to a civilian’s life or person by reason of indiscriminate violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.

327EC. If someone makes a claim for humanitarian protection, they will be deemed to be an asylum applicant and to have made an application for asylum for the purposes of these Rules. The claim will be recorded, subject to meeting the requirements of Rule 327AB(i) to (iv), as an application for asylum and will be assessed under paragraph 334 for refugee status in the first instance. If the application for refugee status is refused, then the Secretary of State will go on to consider the claim as a claim for humanitarian protection.

339C. An asylum applicant will be granted humanitarian protection in the United Kingdom if the Secretary of State is satisfied that: (i) they are in the United Kingdom or have arrived at a port of entry in the United Kingdom; (ii) they are not a refugee within the meaning of Article 1 of the 1951 Refugee Convention; (iii) substantial grounds have been shown for believing that the asylum applicant concerned, if returned to the country of origin, would face a real risk of suffering serious harm and is unable, or, owing to such risk, unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country; and (iv) they are not excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection.

339D. An asylum applicant is excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection for the purposes of paragraph 339C(iv) where the Secretary of State is satisfied that there are serious reasons for considering that the asylum applicant: (i) has committed, instigated or otherwise participated in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, a crime against humanity, as defined in the international instruments drawn up to make provision in respect of such crimes; or (ii) has committed, instigated or otherwise participated in the commission of a serious non-political crime outside the UK prior to their admission to the UK as a person granted humanitarian protection; or (iii) has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations; or (iv) having been convicted by a final judgement of a particularly serious crime (as defined in Section 72 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002), constitutes a danger to the community of the UK; or (v) is a danger to the security of the UK.

327AB. An application for asylum will only be recorded as valid if: i) it is made at a designated place as defined in section 14 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 unless subsequently or otherwise accepted by the Secretary of State; and ii) it is made in person; and iii) it is made by a person who is not a British Citizen; and iv) it is particularised (if the applicant is 18 or over); and

327EB. A claim for humanitarian protection must meet the requirements of paragraphs 327AB(i) to (iv)

You register your asylum claim at a ‘screening’. This is a meeting with an immigration officer where you tell them about your case.

You must tell a Border Force officer that you want to claim asylum.

Call the asylum registration appointment line to book a screening appointment.

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 may be sent to a safe country that will consider your asylum claim.

You’ll be sent an asylum registration card ( ARC )

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 .

You may also be able to get housing and money (‘asylum support’) to support you and your family.

You can include your partner and your children under 18 as ‘dependants’ on your asylum application if they’re with you in the UK.

If you claimed asylum on or after 2 March 2026

If you’re granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, you’ll have permission to stay in the UK for a minimum of 30 months. You can renew your permission to stay if you still need protection. You must do this within 28 days of your current permission expiring.

Your asylum interview will usually take place soon after your screening.

327AB. An application for asylum will only be recorded as valid if: i) it is made at a designated place as defined in section 14 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 unless subsequently or otherwise accepted by the Secretary of State; and ii) it is made in person; and iii) it is made by a person who is not a British Citizen; and iv) it is particularised (if the applicant is 18 or over); and

327EB. A claim for humanitarian protection must meet the requirements of paragraphs 327AB(i) to (iv)

You register your asylum claim at a ‘screening’. This is a meeting with an immigration officer where you tell them about your case.

You must tell a Border Force officer that you want to claim asylum.

Call the asylum registration appointment line to book a screening appointment.