Claim asylum in the UK
Get a decision
Your application will be decided as soon as possible. It may take longer if it’s complicated, for example:
- your supporting documents need to be verified
- you need to attend more interviews
- your personal circumstances need to be checked, for example because you have a criminal conviction or you’re currently being prosecuted
Ask your legal adviser if you want an update on your application.
You’ll be given or refused permission to stay in one of the following ways.
Permission to stay if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection
Refugee status means you’re recognised as a refugee, as defined in the Refugee Convention.
You may get humanitarian protection if you do not qualify for refugee status but cannot return to your own country.
You can read about how applications are decided.
What you’ll get
If you’re granted refugee status or humanitarian protection you’ll have permission to stay in the UK for a minimum of 5 years.
You can also apply for a refugee integration loan.
After 5 years, you can apply to settle in the UK.
Your partner and children under 18
If you included a partner or children under 18 in your application as ‘dependants’, they’ll usually get permission to stay for 5 years.
Dependants can apply to settle in the UK as a family after 5 years.
Dependants are not given refugee status or humanitarian protection unless they make their own claim for asylum. However, they can apply for a refugee integration loan if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection.
Permission to stay for other reasons
You may get permission to stay for other reasons if you do not qualify for permission to stay as a refugee or for humanitarian reasons.
How long you can stay will depend on your situation.
You may be able to apply to extend your stay or settle in the UK towards the end of your stay.
No reason to stay
You’ll be asked to leave the UK if you do not qualify for refugee status and your caseworker decides there’s no other reason for you to stay.
You may be able to appeal against the decision.
You’ll have to leave if you do not appeal in the time allowed, or if your appeal is unsuccessful. You can:
- leave by yourself - you can get help with returning home
- be forced to leave - you’ll get a letter before this happens, then you may be detained without warning at an immigration removal centre and then removed from the UK