Claim asylum

ⓘ Information card

If you have come to the UK and you need to stay because you would be in danger in your country of origin or residence because of who you are, and you want the UK to grant you international protection, you need to claim asylum.

You claim asylum via the UK Home Office, the government department that handles asylum and immigration claims, as well as enforcing borders.

Some people claim asylum immediately on entering the UK, at the port at which they arrive. They do this by telling the immigration officials there that they wish to claim asylum.

If you don’t claim asylum immediately on entering the UK, you will need to telephone to make an appointment to claim asylum at the Asylum Screening Unit. You can do so by calling the asylum intake unit appointments line on 0300 123 4193 on Monday to Thursday, from 9.00am to 4.45pm or on Friday, from 9.00am to 4.30pm. You may have to try many times before you get through.

The exception to this process for claiming asylum is if you arrive in the UK in Northern Ireland – in this situation you claim asylum at the Home Office at Drumkeen House in Upper Galwally, Belfast. You can email rombelfastgeneralenquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk or call 02890 191 005 from Monday-Friday, 9.00am to 4.00pm..

You cannot claim asylum at a police station – though in some cases people who make themselves known at a police station (particularly children) may be signposted to the Home Office.

Read more in the Claiming Asylum section of the Right to Remain Toolkit.

Now read the problem cards below. Discuss with a friend (or have a think if you’re doing this alone) what you might be able to do in this situation. When you have finished, click to reveal a suggested action.

⚠️ Problem card

You go to the Home Office in Croydon (Lunar House) to claim asylum but they tell you that you cannot just turn up without an appointment. You are told you need to go away and then telephone to make an appointment.

  • Click to show action…

    You explain that you are homeless, and that the Home Office policy is that if you have nowhere to live, you should be asked if you need accommodation when you register your claim for asylum. This is a form of emergency temporary accommodation and support called Section 98 support. To learn more about asylum support, take a look at our Toolkit page.

    Think about how you might prove you have nowhere to live. If you have been staying somewhere, can you get a letter to show you cannot stay there any longer?

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