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How to claim asylum

This page explains how and where you can claim asylum in the United Kingdom.

You must be in the United Kingdom in order to apply for asylum here.

You must make your application in person and you should do this as soon as possible after arriving in the United Kingdom. If you delay your application for asylum, it may affect your ability to prove your reasons for it.

If you have arrived in the United Kingdom by travelling through another country within the European Union, or another country we consider to be safe, we may require you to pursue your claim for asylum with the country you travelled through. If this is the case, we will send you back to that country.

You may be detained while we consider your application.

You can make your asylum application at your point of entry to the United Kingdom or, if you are already in the country, to either of our asylum screening units.

Applying at the point of entry

We recommend that you make your application for asylum as you enter the Untied Kingdom.

You can do this at the port or airport by telling the immigration officer at passport control that you wish to claim asylum. The immigration officer will know what needs to be done after you make your application and he/she will help you start the asylum process.

Applying within the United Kingdom

If you wish to claim asylum and are already in the United Kingdom, you can make your application at our asylum screening unit either at Croydon (south of London) or in Liverpool.

By making your application at one of the screening units, you will have started the asylum process.

Terms explained

  • Asylum screening unit

    The asylum screening unit is a centre run by the UK Border Agency where a person is registered as an asylum applicant and begins the process of applying for asylum.

  • European Union

    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

All glossary terms

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