Most people who have claimed asylum in the UK are initially prohibited from working. However, the immigration rules allow for people seeking asylum to request permission to work if you have been waiting for more than 12 months on your asylum claim “through no fault of your own”. This may be 12 months after initially claiming asylum, or 12 months after submitting further submissions to be considered as a fresh claim.
Almost everybody granted permission to work under this policy is only allowed to work in a job on the shortage occupation list. Most jobs on the shortage occupation list are specialised (like civil engineers, architects, or classical ballet dancers).
However, in 2021 and 2022 the list was expanded to include positions like nursing (and nursing assistants), and care work. This opens the possibility of employment for people seeking asylum who would not otherwise be able to carry out jobs on the list.
The Migration Justice Project at the Law Centre NI has drafted a guide to help people seeking asylum understand how and whether they can apply for permission to work while their claim is pending. The guide is available in a number of languages: English, Tigrinya, Somali, Farsi, and Arabic.
It includes information about applying for and receiving permission to work, what jobs you can apply for, applying for a National Insurance Number, and what this could all mean for your asylum support entitlement.
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Good day,Thank you for the information and would love to receive more updates,Thank you.
Dear RTR Team,
Thank you for providing all the vital information for our asylum journeys. This information means a lot to us newcomers, as getting to know complex procedures certainly is a job on its own.
My question today in regards with an ARC/BRP I just today received. It states WORK PERMITTED OHER.
I searched to find the eligibility of jobs for this category, but could not find an answer at all. Everyone else I asked for guidance, was not able to provide an answer what this other means for my work permit.
Hoping you could shed a light to my inquiry, and hopefully for many other who might have received the same opportunity to work while asylum case pending, and are a bit confused what it means.
Thank you for your kind words, and best of luck to you moving forward!
Hi sir or madam
My name is mohamed i am asylum I got work permit i have applied somany jobs they always reject me because of my id i show them i have work permit they 2 weeks to reply to you once they verify they we don’t have any jobs i feel like i am being discriminated and it is so stressful for me i lost hope what should i do i have being here 1 years and half i cry so hard i don’t know what to do please give me some advice
Hello Mohamed, thank you for your query and welcome to the UK. I am so sorry to hear of the struggles you are facing. I would suggest taking a look at the below resources published by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
To learn about proving your right to work: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/right-to-work-in-the-uk/check-how-to-prove-your-right-to-work-in-the-uk/
To check if you have experienced discrimination if an offer of work has been withdrawn: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/discrimination-at-work/discrimination-at-work/checking-if-its-discrimination/check-if-your-problem-at-work-is-discrimination/
If you’d like further information, you can get in touch with Citizens Advice Bureau for free and confidential advice by finding your nearest branch here/using the contact details here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/
Best of luck to you.
I got a WORK PERMIT in August but I haven’t got a job yet everywhere i apply for a job they want to verify my work permit from the Home Office it has not taken six weeks I would like you to advise please
Hello Annet, unfortunately many people are facing this very distressing issue. What we can suggest is that you learn more about it in our Legal Update here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/what-is-causing-the-huge-home-office-delay-in-processing-asylum-claims/#workpermission
And you can also flag this issue by filling out an enquiry form on the Home Office website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-registration-card-arc-enquiry
Best of luck to you.
Could you ask me a question, how long does it take for your ACR/BRP card to arrive after you go to Croydon to do the biometrics?
Hello Carlos, thank you for your comment.
Unfortunately, the Home Office is very delayed in processing asylum claims, and in sending out ARC/BRP cards so it is difficult to say how long it will take for the card to reach you. If you would like to know more about the Home Office delays and what is causing them, you can read our blog post here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/what-is-causing-the-huge-home-office-delay-in-processing-asylum-claims/
I just got my brp and it stated No Work, how do I change to work permit from the home office..thanks
Hello Becky, thank you for your comment. People seeking asylum in the UK can apply for work permission if they have been waiting for a decision on their asylum claim from the Home Office for 12+ months.
If you have received your BRP card for another type of immigration status in the UK, you can look at your Home Office letter which granted you the status for information about whether or not you can work. You can also visit the gov.uk website to find out more about your type of immigration status.
Hello, when an asylum seeker is given permission to work, do you have a limit of hours per week to work during the week, for example, work full time in any job on the shortage list?
Hello Manu, thank you for your question. Yes, you can work any job in the shortage occupation list if you have the right qualifications. To learn more about how working and earning money can affect your asylum support, read our Toolkit page on Asylum Support here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/asylum-support/#workpermission
Dear team,
What is the minimum amount of money I could earn in order to keep my NASS / asylum support?
Thank you
Hello Rajesh, thank you for your comment. I’d suggest you read our recently updated Toolkit page on Asylum Support, which explains how earning money/income interacts with asylum support here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/asylum-support/#workpermission
Hello team, can I apply for work permit even if my asylum claim was refused by the home office in December 2021 and my appeal has been pending till date?
Hi Ingrid, thank you for your query. If you are waiting for a decision on your asylum appeal, you are still eligible to apply for work permission because you are still ‘in the system’.
Hi,
Please how long does it take for work permit to be processed after applying for it?thanks
Hello Tawa, thank you for your query.
Unfortunately, many people are waiting a long time for their work permission application to be processed/to receive their updated ARC card. You can learn more about Home Office delays by reading our update here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/what-is-causing-the-huge-home-office-delay-in-processing-asylum-claims/#workpermission
Best of luck to you.
Hello i m here over 12 months i applied work permit . How long it takes to get decision for work permit? thank you
Hello Ahmad, thank you for your message. Unfortunately, because of the Home Office delays in making asylum decisions, many people are facing a delay in receiving their work permission. You can find more information about Home Office delays here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/what-is-causing-the-huge-home-office-delay-in-processing-asylum-claims/
Can asylum seekers Get work permit
Hello Ahmed, yes people seeking asylum can apply for work permission if they have been waiting for a decision on their asylum claim for 12 months or more. You can read the blog post above for more information and access the guide in the languages listed above.
Hi , I am Hamayo , I would like to ask you I applied for asylum and got work permission in short occupation , I working in construction company , the owner want Spencer me , can you tell me supervision in construction comes in short occupation list thanks
Hello Hamayo, thank you for your message. Unfortunately, construction does not seem to be listed on the Shortage Occupation List. You can access the list (and perhaps go through it with your employer) here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-shortage-occupation-list
I want to knw when can i get right to work one year after claiming asylum or one year after screening interview? plz guide
Hello Nazish, you can apply for work permission if 12 months or more have passed since you initially claimed asylum.
Hello Sir,
I am on asylum visa and have working right. Can I work as self employed and apply for UTR?
Hello Milesh, thank you for your query. People seeking asylum and who obtain permission to work can only work a job that is listed on the government’s Shortage Occupation List, unfortunately. You can access the list here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-shortage-occupation-list
Hi, I’m supporting an asylum seeker who has experience/graduate skills on the shortage list- highly employable, we know an employer desperate for his skills- is it right that he can only get employment after waiting 1yr+ from making his claim?
Hello Lindsey. Yes, people seeking asylum can only apply for work permission on the Shortage Occupation List if they have been waiting for a decision on their asylum claim for 12 months or more.
Hi RTR team,
I got my work permit and working at a job listed on the shortage occupation list for more than a year now. I informed Home Office and send relevant documents to inform them. However they have not get back to me or changed the conditions of my asylum support. Though, they acknowledged my situation during a correspondence for a separate matter.
My question is, would home office come back later to ask for refund for the support they provided during the time I was working.
Best
Hello Adam,
Thank you for your query. I’m sorry to hear of the confusing situation that you are in. At Right to Remain, we are not lawyers so we cannot provide specific legal advice. What I would suggest is that you read our Toolkit page on ‘Asylum Support’ and specifically the section on how asylum support may interact with work, because everyone’s situation is different. You can access the page here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/asylum-support/#workpermission
Best of luck, and I hope you get some clarity soon.
Hi please I got my right to work card and I applied for NI but I wasn’t given please what can I do and can I apply for jobs before I get my NI
Hello Folakemi, thank you for your message. To find out how to apply for a National Insurance Number, you can read our Toolkit page on Applying for Work Permission here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/applying-for-permission-to-work-asylum/#nationalinsurancenumber
Hello ,
I was Student while claiming asylum , and I have got my ARC card with written “work permitted student ”
I have quit the course and university has removed the sponsorship. I have found a job and the employer has run ESC check and home office has replyed that i am work permited with 20hours per pweek during the term and full time during holidays when , since i am not enganed with University can i work full time or i need sponsor ?
Hello Behzad, thank you for your message. I cannot provide you with specific legal advice because at Right to Remain we are not lawyers. However, you can take a look at our Toolkit page on Work Permission to see if any of the information featured is relevant to you and your position: https://migrationpartnership.org.uk/march-23-update-on-asylum-questionnaires-being-sent-to-afghan-eritrean-libyan-syrian-and-yemeni-asylum-seekers/
Hi behzad,
DId you get any answer / solution to your query?
Hi. My name is joaquin. I have right to work but i can’t get a share code. How can i get it? Thanks.
Hi Joaquin, thank you for your message. You can read our Toolkit page on Applying for Permission to work to find out what to do in your position: https://righttoremain.org.uk/applying-for-permission-to-work-asylum/#sharecode
Best of luck to you.
I just claimed asylum yesterday as I’m destitute with my kids and I was given an initial accommodation. I had an active visa before claiming asylum so the documents I got from home office states I’ve got work permit. What I’m not clear about is will I be taken from the initial accommodation(section 98) and transferred to another accommodation under section 95? Do I have to apply for section 95 myself? Im still yet to get an ARC as well but it’s just being 2 days.
Hello Ola, thank you for your comment. I’m very sorry to hear of the distress you and your children are facing. You can learn more about the differences between s95 and s98 Asylum Support on our Toolkit page here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/asylum-support/
Best of luck to you.
Good afternoon
My question relates to the Asylum Short List Occupation List. Your article “are you an asylum seeker? do you want to start work?” on the page https://righttoremain.org.uk/guide-to-work-permission-for-asylum-seekers-by-migration-justice-project/ and the link “Take A Look at the Guide” contains a further link to the gov website and the page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-shortage-occupations.
This is the “Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations” list. New to this list (at least for asylum seekers) are jobs in the building trade (carpenters, general builders, plasterers etc) and programmers (of any type – previously it was quite niche).
Please could you confirm that this list on the gov.uk website applies to asylum seekers who have been given permission to work on jobs on the shortage list.
Hi Liz, thank you for your comment. Yes, confusingly, the same shortage occupation list is used for people seeking asylum as well as those on the skilled worker visa paths.
Hello
my friend is an assulum seeker , got an ARC car with “work permitted” on it
does it mean its unrestricted?
otherwise it woud have “work permitted other” – for seasonal workers and only for particular company, “work permitted SOL” – only for jobs from the list, or “work permitted student” – 20 hours per week max
am I correct?
Hello Bob, thank you for your message.
We are going to do some research into the differences between various allowances on ARC cards. When we find the answers, we will add them to our Toolkit page on Work Permissions here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/applying-for-permission-to-work-asylum/
Generally though, people who are seeking asylum and are granted permission to work are only allowed to work jobs on the Shortage Occupation List – you can read more about this on our same Toolkit page here: https://righttoremain.org.uk/applying-for-permission-to-work-asylum/