Who can claim asylum
You can claim asylum in the UK if you have left your country and cannot go back because you fear persecution. The fear must be well founded, and the persecution must be for a reason the Refugee Convention recognises: race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. You can claim from inside the UK however you entered.
When and how to claim
Claim as soon as you arrive, or as soon as you believe it would be unsafe to return. A late claim is held against you. Your claim is registered at a screening meeting with an immigration officer, where your identity, route and a short account are taken; you book it on the asylum registration appointment line, 0300 123 4193 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). The process can include a single protection interview in place of separate screening and interview appointments. Take your documents and any medical information.
The interview that decides the claim
A caseworker then interviews you in detail about what happened and what you fear. What you say is compared with your screening answers, your documents and published country information, and even small inconsistencies are used to doubt the account. A full written statement, prepared with a lawyer before the interview and supported by evidence, is the best protection. See the asylum screening and interview.
While you wait
- You must attend reporting events as required.
- You will not usually be allowed to work. You can ask for permission to work if you have waited more than twelve months for an initial decision through no fault of your own, and any permission is restricted.
- If you would otherwise be destitute, you may be able to get accommodation and a weekly allowance as an asylum seeker.
- Giving false information can lead to up to two years in prison.
If you are recognised as a refugee
For claims decided on or after 2 March 2026, refugee status is granted for 30 months at a time under the core protection model. At the end of each period the Home Office reviews whether you still need protection, and settlement on this route generally requires a much longer qualifying period than before, in the region of 20 years. The government has also announced a route for refugees who work or study with a shorter wait for permanent residence. These rules are changing, so take advice on which applies to your claim.
If the claim is refused
A refusal of a protection claim carries a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, with a short deadline: 14 days if you are in the UK and 28 days outside it. The fee is £82 on the papers or £144 with a hearing, but not if you receive asylum support or qualify for legal aid. See asylum appeals. If your circumstances change after the appeal rights end, see further submissions.
Asylum and human rights claims
An asylum claim is about persecution for a Refugee Convention reason. A human rights claim says that removal would breach the European Convention on Human Rights, for example because of a risk of serious harm, or because of your family or private life here. Both can be made together. See human rights and private life applications. If you have been trafficked, see the National Referral Mechanism.
How we help
We help you prepare the statement and evidence, attend the interview with you, and, if the claim is refused, prepare and file the appeal. If you are in danger or about to be removed, telephone us. A consultation is from £99.
