Refugee permission

i) An “application for asylum” (or an “asylum application”) is a claim by a person to be recognised as a refugee under the Refugee Convention on the basis that it would be contrary to the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Refugee Convention for them to be removed from or required to leave the United Kingdom, and which is recorded as valid or a claim deemed to be an application for asylum in accordance with paragraph 327EC.

339QAA. Where the Secretary of State has granted an asylum applicant refugee status under paragraph 334 following an asylum claim or further submissions made on or after 2 March 2026, the asylum applicant will be granted permission to stay on a protection route at the same time as or as soon as possible after the grant of refugee status.

Permission to stay on a protection route will be valid for a minimum period of: (a) 30 months, or (b) 5 years, where the asylum applicant is: (i) an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child

(i) they are in the United Kingdom or have arrived at a port of entry in the United Kingdom; and

(ii) they are a refugee, as defined in Article 1 of the 1951 Refugee Convention; and

(v) refusing their application would result in them being required to go (whether immediately or after the time limited by any existing leave to enter or remain in the UK) in breach of the Refugee Convention, to a country in which they would be persecuted on account of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.

iii) it is made by a person who is not a British Citizen; and

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

Every asylum application made by a person at a port or airport in the United Kingdom will be referred by the Immigration Officer for determination by the Secretary of State in accordance with these Rules.

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.

When you apply you’ll have a meeting with an immigration officer (known as a ‘screening’).

After your screening the Home Office will decide if your claim can be considered in the UK. If it can, you’ll have an asylum interview with a caseworker.

You’ll be told after your screening what you must do while you’re waiting for your asylum decision, for example report to a caseworker regularly (known as ‘reporting events’).

You must tell the authorities if your situation changes.

You will not usually be allowed to work while your asylum claim is being considered.

getting legal representation for your asylum claim living in the UK while you wait for your decision

349. A partner, or minor child, accompanying a principal applicant may be included in the application for asylum as a dependant, provided, in the case of an adult dependent partner with legal capacity, the partner consents to being treated as a dependant at the time the application is lodged. A partner or minor child may also claim asylum in their own right. If the principal applicant is granted refugee status or humanitarian protection and leave to enter or remain any partner or minor child will be granted leave to enter or remain for the same duration.

350. Unaccompanied children may also make a protection claim and, in view of their potential vulnerability, particular priority and care is to be given to the handling of their cases.

328. All asylum applications will be determined by the Secretary of State in accordance with the Refugee Convention and the Immigration Rules.

333B. Applicants for asylum shall be allowed an effective opportunity to consult, at their own expense or at public expense in accordance with provision made for this by the Legal Aid Agency or otherwise, a person who is authorised under Part V of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to give immigration advice.

You can get up to 2 years in prison or have to leave the UK if you give false information on your application.