UKAsylum / refugee status

Asylum in the United Kingdom in the UK

Asylum and Humanitarian Protection are protection statuses for people already in the United Kingdom who cannot safely return home because of a threat of persecution. The Home Office decides whether to recognise the person as a refugee, grant humanitarian protection or refuse the claim after a series of interviews.

Visa term

Usually 5 years of Refugee Leave / Humanitarian Protection, then ILR

Threshold

There are no financial requirements; housing and basic support are possible

Processing time

Formally quick, in practice months, and years in complex cases

Residence

Continuous residence with a limit on days spent outside the UK

Source: gov.uk — asylum claim and humanitarian protection

Who can make a claim

Grounds of persecution that give a right to protection

Race
Religion
Nationality
Political opinion
Gender, gender identity or sexual orientation

Conditions for making a claim

You have already left your country and cannot return because of a real risk of persecution
You have tried to obtain protection from the authorities of your country without success
If you are stateless, “your country” means the country where you normally live
The claim is made on arrival in the United Kingdom or as soon as it becomes clear that it is unsafe to return — a late claim is more likely to be refused

What it costs

Weekly allowance per person (food, clothing, toiletries)	49,18 GBP
Weekly allowance if the accommodation already includes meals	9,95 GBP
Extra payment for pregnant women for healthy food, per week	+5,25 GBP
Extra payment for a child under 1 year old, per week	+9,5 GBP
Extra payment for a child aged 1–3, per week	+5,25 GBP
One-off maternity payment	+300 GBP

Documents to gather

The documents must be prepared for the screening interview.

Passport and travel documents, if you have them
Identity documents: identity cards, birth and marriage certificates, school documents
Any other papers that help to prove the circumstances of the case
Proof of an address in the United Kingdom: a bank statement, tenancy documents, utility bills or a tax notice — or a letter from the householder no more than 3 months old if you are staying with someone else
The original passport and identity documents — they must be sent by post before the asylum interview; documents in a foreign language must come with an English translation

How the process runs

The route from claim to decision goes through several stages.

1
Making the claim
It is best to claim asylum immediately on arrival in the United Kingdom or as soon as it becomes clear that it is unsafe to return — delay reduces the chances of success.
2
Screening
A meeting with an immigration officer: photograph, fingerprints and an interview about identity and background. A partner and children under 18 can be brought along and registered as dependants.
3
Decision on whether the claim will be considered in the United Kingdom
After screening the Home Office decides whether the claim will be considered on its merits in the United Kingdom.
4
The asylum interview
The interview with a caseworker about the reasons for persecution usually takes place shortly after screening — by video link or in person, with an interpreter if needed; you can bring a solicitor or a friend for support.
5
Decision on the claim
The claim is considered as quickly as possible; the time increases if documents have to be checked, further interviews are needed or the claimant has a criminal case. The outcome is refugee status, humanitarian protection, another form of leave to remain, or a refusal with a right of appeal.

Timelines and rights

Work

Heavily restricted while the claim is being considered; unrestricted once status is granted

Who you can bring with you

A partner and children are considered together with the main claim, but they do not receive protection status automatically.

Partner and children under 18

They are included in the claim as “dependants” — they are taken along to the screening or added by a later request; dependant status does not take effect until the person has been through their own screening. If the main claim succeeds, dependants are as a rule granted leave to remain for 30 months, but do not receive refugee status or humanitarian protection unless they make their own asylum claim. Children’s own protection needs are considered separately — they may be granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or another form of leave to remain.

Unaccompanied children

They can claim on their own if there is no adult relative with them who is also claiming asylum. If the claim succeeds they are granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom for at least 5 years.

Renewal and the grace period

Leave to remain granted as refugee status or humanitarian protection can be extended if protection is still needed. The extension application must be made no later than 28 days after the current leave expires. Towards the end of the term you can apply to settle in the UK instead of extending.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Asylum in the United Kingdom	Skilled worker visa	Visa for professional leaders
Visa term	Usually 5 years of Refugee Leave / Humanitarian Protection, then ILR	Up to 5 years at a time (tied to the CoS), can be extended repeatedly	1–5 years at a time, at your choice, extendable; there is no overall maximum
Work	Heavily restricted while the claim is being considered; unrestricted once status is granted	Work in the sponsored job plus supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week	Full right to work in any field and to change employer without a sponsor
Residence	Continuous residence with a limit on days spent outside the UK	Absences must not exceed about 180 days a year	You must show that your centre of life is in the UK

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

ILR after 5 years in the status

Route to citizenship

Citizenship after ILR and the general periods (5–6 years in the UK)

Frequently asked questions about Asylum in the United Kingdom

Who can claim asylum in the United Kingdom?

A claim can be made by people who have already left their country and cannot safely return because of a real risk of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. You must show that trying to obtain protection from the authorities of your country did not help. For stateless people, “your country” means the country of habitual residence.

Can you work while the claim is being considered?

As a rule you cannot work while an asylum claim is being considered. Permission to work is granted in certain cases under separate Home Office guidance on working while an asylum claim is under consideration.

What support is available while waiting for a decision?

If you have nowhere to live and no money for food you can apply for asylum support: accommodation (a flat, house, hostel or guest house, with no choice of location) and a payment onto a card — usually £49.18 a week per person for food, clothing and toiletries, or £9.95 a week if the accommodation already includes meals.

What happens to the claimant’s partner and children?

A partner and children under 18 can be included in the claim as dependants — they are taken to the screening or added by a later request; dependant status does not take effect until the person has been through their own screening. If a dependant is a child, their own protection needs are considered separately: they may be granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or another form of leave to remain, different from the parent’s status.

How does refugee status differ from humanitarian protection?

Refugee status is granted to those who meet the definition in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Humanitarian protection is granted to those who do not meet that definition but cannot return to their country. Other grounds for staying in the United Kingdom are also possible.

For how long is refugee status or humanitarian protection granted?

For claims made from 2 March 2026 the status is granted for at least 30 months for adults and dependants and for at least 5 years for unaccompanied children. For claims made before that date the status was granted for at least 5 years in every case. Leave to remain must be extended, if protection is still needed, no later than 28 days after the current term expires.

When can you apply for indefinite leave to remain after refugee status?

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain with refugee status or humanitarian protection after 5 years of residence in the United Kingdom with that status.

How much does the indefinite leave to remain application cost and how long does it take?

For those with refugee status, humanitarian protection or section 67 leave there is no fee for the indefinite leave to remain application — this also applies to a partner or child. The decision is usually given within 6 months of the application (or of giving biometrics, where they are required).

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.