Claim asylum in the UK
Attend an asylum screening
You register your asylum claim at a 鈥榮creening鈥�. This is a meeting with an immigration officer where you tell them about your case.
You鈥檒l have your screening at the UK border if you claim asylum as soon as you arrive. You can also be screened once you鈥檙e in the UK if you become eligible for asylum.
At your screening you鈥檒l:
- be photographed
- have your fingerprints taken
- have an interview to check who you are and where you鈥檙e from
You鈥檒l be asked why you want asylum. You can bring written evidence to support your claim if you want, as well as any other documents you need.
You鈥檒l need to say if you or your dependants are taking any medication and give any relevant medical information. A dependant is your partner and any children under 18.
You can ask for a male or female interviewer, but your choice might not always be available.
Screening at the UK border
You must tell a Border Force officer that you want to claim asylum.
Your application will be registered and you鈥檒l be screened - ask for an interpreter if you need one.
Screening in the UK
If you鈥檙e already in the UK, you must call the asylum registration appointment line to book your screening appointment.
They鈥檒l ask simple questions about you and your family. You鈥檒l also be asked if you need help with housing.
You will not be asked why you鈥檙e claiming asylum during this call.
Tell the asylum registration appointment line if:
- you need to bring any dependants to your screening
- you鈥檙e a child and need to be accompanied
- you need an interpreter at your screening
Asylum registration appointment line
Telephone: 0300 123 4193
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges听
If you鈥檙e eligible for asylum, you will be offered a registration screening interview at your nearest asylum registration location.
Do not attend an asylum registration location without an appointment. If the asylum registration location does not know you鈥檙e coming, you may not be seen.
If you have nowhere to live, you still need to call the asylum registration appointment line. You may be told to attend a screening appointment.
Attending your appointment
You can bring a legal representative and an interpreter to your appointment if you need them. You must bring any dependants who are claiming asylum with you.
If you鈥檙e helping a child register their own asylum claim, you can go with them to their appointment.听
You must also bring the documents you need for your application.听
You cannot get financial help for travel to or from the asylum registration location.
Tell the appointment service if your situation changes before your appointment date, for example if you can no longer stay where you are living.