Eligibility & Documents Required To Claim Asylum In The UK

The Home Office is careful with its eligibility requirements when it comes to claiming asylum in order to ensure help is provided to those who need it most.

The most fundamental eligibility requirement is that you are fleeing a country because you fear persecution based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or anything else that could put you at risk depending on the current political situation within that country, such as your gender identity or sexual orientation.

The government might not consider your asylum claim if you:

• Are from an EU country
• Have travelled through a ‘safe third country’
• Have a connection to a ‘safe third country’ where you could have claimed asylum already

The government defines a ‘safe third country’ as one where you are not currently a citizen, where you would not be harmed, and where you would not be sent to a country where you would be harmed.

What Documents Are Required to Claim Asylum in the UK?

The documents you will require when claiming asylum in the UK fall under two categories. The first is to demonstrate who you are and where you have been. The second is to show where you are staying in the UK.

These are absolutely crucial when it comes to filling out an asylum claim and your application may be rejected if you fail to provide valid documents.

The first documents you will need to provide are intended to show the Home Office exactly who you are, where you are from, and where you have recently been. They include:

• Any passports or travel documents
• Identification documents which include birth and marriage certificates, school records, or country-specific identity cards
• Any other documentation that might help with your application, such as household bills from a previous country or vehicle licence documentation

The second set of documents to include in your application will show the Home Office exactly where you are staying in the UK, and they include:

• Household bills
• Council tax notices
• Bank statements with your address
• Tenancy agreement
• Housing benefit book

If you are staying at somebody else’s accommodation then the Home Office will still need the above documents showing their address, as well as a letter written within the last three months confirming you have their permission to stay.

Page Contents

• Eligibility & Documents Required to Claim Asylum in the UK
• Passport Has Expired: What Can I Do?
• How To Claim Asylum In The UK: The Steps
• What Happens After I Claim Asylum?
• Our Total Law Immigration Solicitors Can Help You
• Frequently Asked Questions

If your passport has expired then it is important to be clear about this when filling out the form to claim asylum in the UK. In the meantime, you can also apply for an immigrant’s passport which can be used as a normal passport would, only that it excludes your home country.

You can also be granted ‘limited leave endorsement’ for a lost, stolen, damaged, or soon-to-be-expired passport. This process will transfer your leave endorsement to a biometric residence permit (BRP) via a ‘transfer of conditions’ application. These permits can be used to confirm your identity, your right to study in the UK, and your right to any public services or benefits.

Claiming asylum in the UK is a process with three key stages:

When you register your asylum claim you will be photographed, have fingerprints taken, and have an initial interview to state who you are and where you have come from. You need to be clear if you or any of your dependents take medication or have medical information.

Once you have registered your intention to claim asylum in the UK, you will have an initial asylum screening. If you are already in the UK then this will be done via a telephone call which will take up to 30 minutes. You should have all relevant documents at hand during this screening and you should be ready to provide any information relating to your dependents.

If there is enough evidence then you might be granted refugee status without needing to do an asylum interview.

However, in most cases, you will be asked to speak to a caseworker soon after your screening. This is your opportunity to explain how you were persecuted in your country and why you are afraid to return.

You must be very open with the caseworker because any omitted details could be used against your claim further down the line. It is vital to have all necessary documents available to you when you go for your interview.

Whilst your application will be handled by the Home Office as soon as possible, it may take longer for a decision to be made if:

• More interviews are required
• Supporting documents need to be verified
• Personal circumstances complicate the process e.g. criminal convictions and medical requirements

If your claim for asylum is granted then you will be officially recognised as a refugee. In this case, you will have permission to reside in the UK for a minimum of 5 years, you will have access to a refugee integration loan to help you get started, and you will also be able to apply to fully settle in the UK after 5 years.

If your claim for asylum is not granted then you will be asked to leave the UK. If you fail to leave the country yourself then you may be forced to leave, but only after a letter has been sent to you to inform you of this action.

In this instance, you will be detained at an immigration removal centre before being removed from the country. If you decide to appeal your asylum decision then you will not be asked to leave until the appeal process is complete and a decision has been made.

After you have claimed asylum and are awaiting a decision, you may want to access some asylum support which includes accommodation and housing assistance:

• Section 95 support will provide you with accommodation somewhere in the country along with financial help
• Section 98 will provide you with the same assistance while you are waiting for a decision on your Section 95 application
• Section 4 support is reserved for those whose asylum claims have been refused whilst they prepare to leave the country.