Claim asylum in the UK
Eligibility
To stay in the UK as a refugee you must be unable to live safely in any part of your own country because you fear persecution there.
If you鈥檙e stateless, your own country is the country you usually live in.
This persecution must be because of:
- your race
- your religion
- your nationality
- your political opinion
- anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, for example, your gender, gender identity or sexual orientation
You must have failed to get protection from authorities in your own country.
When your claim might not be considered
Your claim might not be considered if you:
- are from an EU country
- travelled to the UK through a 鈥榮afe third country鈥�
- have a connection to a safe third country where you could claim asylum
Generally, a safe third country is one that:
- you鈥檙e not a citizen of
- you would not be harmed in
- would not send you on to another country where you would be harmed
Family members
You can include your partner and your children under 18 as 鈥榙ependants鈥� in your application if they鈥檙e with you in the UK.
If your application is successful, any dependants named on it can usually stay for the same amount of time as you. They will not get refugee status unless they make their own claim for asylum.
Refugee status means someone is protected by the . They can, for example, apply for family reunion or apply for a refugee integration loan.