Claim asylum in the UK
Attend an asylum screening
You register your asylum claim at a ‘screening’. This is a meeting with an immigration officer where you tell them about your case.
You’ll have your screening at the UK border if you claim asylum as soon as you arrive. You can also be screened once you’re in the UK if you become eligible for asylum.
At your screening you’ll:
- be photographed
- have your fingerprints taken
- have an interview to check who you are and where you’re from
You’ll 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’ll 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’ll be screened - ask for an interpreter if you need one.
Screening if you’re already in the UK
Call the asylum registration appointment line to book a screening appointment.
When you call, you’ll be asked simple questions about you, your family and your housing arrangments.
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.
You will not be asked why you’re claiming asylum during this call.
Tell the asylum registration appointment line if:
- you need to bring any dependants to your screening appointment
- you’re a child and need to be accompanied
- you need an interpreter at your screening appointment
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
If you’re eligible, you will be offered a registration screening appointment at your nearest asylum registration location.
Your asylum claim is not registered until you attend your screening appointment and your application has been accepted.
Do not attend an asylum registration location without a screening appointment. If the asylum registration location does not know you’re coming, you may not be seen.
Attending your screening appointment
You can bring a legal representative and an interpreter to your screening appointment if you need them. You must bring any dependants who are claiming asylum with you.
If you’re helping a child register their own asylum claim, you can go with them to their screening appointment.
You must also bring the documents you need for your application.
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.