Immigration

Asylum & Humanitarian Protection

If you fear returning to your country, the right legal advice can make all the difference. We assist with asylum claims, appeals, fresh claims, trafficking matters, human rights cases and urgent protection work with care, preparation and clear advice from the start.

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Protection cases need careful preparation from the beginning

Asylum and humanitarian protection cases often turn on detailed facts, consistent evidence and a clear explanation of why return would place a person at real risk. The Home Office and the Tribunal will look closely at credibility, documents, country evidence and whether protection is available elsewhere.

We take time to understand what happened, what you fear, and what evidence is available. We then explain the strongest route, the likely issues in dispute, and the next steps in plain language. Choose the service closest to your situation below, or speak to us and we will guide you to the right option.

Asylum and protection services

Select the route that matches your situation.

Asylum ClaimsAdvice and preparation for people who fear persecution or serious harm if returned to their country.Learn more Asylum AppealsRepresentation after a refusal, including appeal preparation, bundles, statements and hearing strategy.Learn more Fresh Claims & Further SubmissionsFor refused asylum or human rights cases where new evidence or a new risk now needs to be considered.Learn more Humanitarian ProtectionAdvice for people who may not meet the refugee definition but still face a real risk of serious harm.Learn more Article 3 Human Rights ClaimsProtection arguments based on torture, inhuman treatment, medical risk or other serious harm on return.Learn more Human Trafficking & Modern SlaveryAdvice for people who have been exploited, forced to work, controlled, threatened or referred into the NRM.Learn more Immigration Bail & DetentionUrgent advice for detained clients, bail applications, reporting concerns and release planning.Learn more Judicial ReviewChallenges to unlawful immigration decisions, including certification, removal action and fresh claim refusals.Learn more Refugee Family ReunionApplications for eligible family members to join a person granted protection in the UK.Learn more

Key facts

The main rules that apply to asylum & humanitarian protection, with the law or official source for each.

You should claim asylum as soon as you can. An unexplained delay can be counted against your credibility.
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, s 8
For protection claims made on or after 2 March 2026, the first grant of permission is normally 30 months, with five years kept for unaccompanied children.
Immigration Rules, Appendix Protection, from March 2026
The dedicated refugee family reunion route has been closed to new applications since 4 September 2025. Family members may still be able to apply under the general family rules.
Statement of Changes HC 1298
Legal Aid is available for asylum and protection work, subject to a means and merits assessment.
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, Sch 1

Correct as at October 2026. Rules and fees can change at short notice, so we confirm what applies to you before any application is made. This is general information, not legal advice on your case.

Common questions

You claim asylum by telling the Home Office that you cannot return to your country safely. If you are at a port or airport, you can claim on arrival. If you are already in the UK, you contact the Home Office to register your claim and attend a screening interview. You should claim as soon as you can. Read more about asylum claims →

If you are in the UK, you usually have 14 calendar days from the date of your refusal letter to lodge your appeal with the First-tier Tribunal. From outside the UK, the limit is usually 28 days. The deadline is strict, so contact a solicitor as soon as you receive the refusal. Read more about asylum appeals →

A fresh asylum claim, known formally as further submissions, is new evidence put to the Home Office under paragraph 353 of the Immigration Rules after your asylum claim has been refused and your appeals are over. If the evidence is genuinely new and gives a realistic prospect of success, it is treated as a fresh claim. Read more about fresh claims & further submissions →

Not sure what type of protection claim you need?

Many cases involve more than one issue, including asylum, Article 3, trafficking, family life, medical evidence or fresh submissions. Tell us what has happened and we will explain the safest next step clearly.