Refused asylum? File your appeal
You have 14 days from the date of refusal — but don't panic. ~50% of people win their appeal. A Legal Aid lawyer is free. Section 95 (housing + money) is preserved the entire time your appeal is ongoing. This page is a neutral guide, not immigration advice.
You have 14 days. After that the refusal becomes final. DON'T wait. If you're late — file anyway: the court often accepts with an explanation. First step — call Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 (free, 24/7).
~50%
win
their appeal in court
their appeal in court
14 days
to file
can be later too
can be later too
£0
cost
on Section 95
on Section 95
10 min
online
6 simple steps
6 simple steps
Urgent help — appeal
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I want to file right now — without reading
Find a free Legal Aid lawyer
Legal Aid fully covers asylum appeals. A lawyer is not a luxury — it's a right. Find one now.
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01
14 days — what to do today
action plan- Today: call Migrant Help 0808 8010 503Free, 24/7, in multiple languages. They will help you find a lawyer and explain the next steps. This is the first thing to do — before filing any forms.
- Find a Legal Aid lawyer — freeLegal Aid fully covers asylum appeals. You pay nothing. Find one through our database: startnewlife.uk/en/database/lawyers/ — also: Russian-speaking lawyers.
- Keep and copy all documentsRefusal letter, all letters from the Home Office, personal documents. Don't throw anything away.
- File the IAFT-1 form (with a lawyer or on your own)Online at the tribunal website: appeal-immigration-asylum-decision.service.gov.uk. 6 steps, 10 minutes. You only need an email and the reference number from your refusal letter.
More than 14 days have passed? File anyway. The system will ask you to explain why you're late (you were ill, didn't have a lawyer, didn't receive the letter on time). The court decides individually — they often accept. Don't waste time on doubts.
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What is a Legal Aid lawyer
free · IAA/SRALegal Aid is a government programme providing free legal help. Asylum appeals are always covered by Legal Aid. The lawyer must be registered with the IAA (Immigration Advice Authority) or hold an SRA licence.
- £0 from your pocketLegal Aid pays the lawyer directly. You do not sign any debt obligations.
- What the lawyer doesReads your file and refusal letter, prepares grounds of appeal (arguments), gathers country of origin evidence, writes a witness statement, represents you in court.
- How to find one→ Our Legal Aid lawyer database · Coram CLC: 020 7627 7979 · Refugee Legal Centre · Law Centres Network
- Beware of scammersA Legal Aid lawyer never takes cash. If someone asks you to pay, it's not Legal Aid. Check IAA registration: gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser
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Documents — what to gather
checklistRequired
- Refusal letter from the Home Office (has the reference number)
- All previous letters from the Home Office
- Home Office asylum decision (Reasons for Refusal Letter / RFC)
- Email for the tribunal website account
- Address + phone number
Helpful to have
- Passport / any identity documents
- Medical certificates (especially if you have trauma, PTSD)
- Statements from people who know your situation
- Correspondence with family back home (if it confirms a threat)
- Publications about the situation in your country
Your lawyer will tell you exactly what is needed for your case. Gather everything you have — don't throw anything away.
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IAFT-1 — the appeal form online
6 steps · 10 minutesIAFT-1 is the official form for filing an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (FtT). It is filed online.
1
Open the tribunal websiteappeal-immigration-asylum-decision.service.gov.uk
2
Create an accountEmail + password, confirmation code sent to your email
3
Answer basic questionsAre you in the UK? In detention? Type of Home Office decision?
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Enter the reference number from your letterDate of refusal + Home Office reference number
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Fill in your personal detailsName, date of birth, address, phone number
6
Check and submitSubmit — done! Confirmation sent to your email.
Confusion about terms: this page is about appealing a refusal of asylum (Home Office refusal). If you were refused asylum support (housing/money), that's a different process: you have 3 days to file with the Asylum Support Tribunal. → Appeal support decisions
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Evidence bundle — package of evidence
prepare with a lawyerThe evidence bundle is the complete package of evidence you submit to the court. Your lawyer will help you put it together. Below are the main categories.
- Witness statement (written testimony)Your personal story — detailed, chronological. Your lawyer will help you write it. This is the most important document in your case.
- Country of Origin Evidence (COE)Data about the situation in your country: reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Home Office Country Policy Information Notes. Your lawyer knows which ones to use.
- Medical reportsIf you have experienced torture or trauma, a medical report (e.g. a Medico-Legal report) can significantly strengthen your case. Referral through Freedom from Torture or the Helen Bamber Foundation.
- Witness statementsWritten statements from people who can confirm your story — relatives, a priest, a doctor, neighbours.
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Hearing — what to expect in court
6–12 months waitAfter filing the IAFT-1, the tribunal sets a hearing date. Due to backlogs, you will wait 6–12 months — this is normal. Throughout this time, Section 95 (housing + money) continues.
A
File IAFT-1 You receive a confirmation by email. Your case is registered.
B
Wait for a date · 6–12 months The court is overloaded. Housing and ASPEN money are preserved. Use this time — work with your lawyer, gather evidence.
C
Notice of hearing Arrives by post. Make sure your address is up to date in the court system. To change your address: contactia@justice.gov.uk or 0300 123 1711.
D
Hearing day Come with your lawyer. There will be a judge, a Home Office representative, an interpreter (if needed — tell them in advance). You will be asked questions about your story.
E
Court decision Sometimes immediately, sometimes by post a few weeks later. ~50% win — refugee status or humanitarian protection. If you lose, there are further options (see below).
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If you lose — Further Submissions
Para 353 · Upper TribunalLosing in the First-tier Tribunal is not the end. There are several further routes. All require a lawyer.
- Upper Tribunal — if the judge made an error of law Not a re‑examination of facts, but an appeal on a legal error. You need "permission to appeal". Deadline — 12 working days after the FtT decision. → Only with a lawyer.
- Further Submissions (Para 353) — new substantial evidence Filed with the Home Office (not the court). If the situation in your country has changed or new evidence has emerged, your lawyer will assess whether there is a basis. → More: startnewlife.uk/en/further-submissions
- Judicial Review — last resort Challenging procedural failures by the Home Office. Deadline — 3 months. Complex and expensive, but Legal Aid may cover it. Only with an experienced lawyer.
Don't confuse: Further Submissions is not a new appeal. It is submitting new evidence to the Home Office. If there is nothing new, the Home Office will simply refuse. Always discuss with a lawyer before filing.
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Asylum support during appeal
Section 95 · important to know🏠
If you are on Section 95 — support CONTINUES during the appeal
Section 95 (housing + ASPEN card) remains active the entire time your appeal is ongoing — until the final decision. You will not be evicted or have payments stopped.
- How much you receiveASPEN card: £49.18/week per adult (as of May 2026). Pregnant: £5.25/week supplement. Child under 1: £9.50/week supplement.
- What to do if support stopsImmediately call Migrant Help: 0808 8010 503. Stopping Section 95 during an active appeal is a Home Office error that can be challenged.
- After winning the appeal42 days to transition from asylum support to Universal Credit (UC). Apply for UC immediately after receiving the decision — don't wait for a BRP or eVisa. Use the letter granting you status.
Common mistakes — avoid them
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Missing the 14‑day deadline without an explanationFile immediately — with any grounds. An explanation for the delay is needed, but the court often accepts it.
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Paying a "lawyer" in cashA Legal Aid lawyer never takes money. Check IAA registration. Scammers are common in this area.
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Filing IAFT-1 without a lawyer if your case is complexSelf‑filing is fine for registration. But grounds of appeal and the evidence bundle are best done with a lawyer.
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Not updating your address with the court when you moveThe hearing notice arrives by post. If it doesn't reach you, you miss the hearing and lose by default.
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Confusing the appeal form (IAFT-1) with Further SubmissionsThese are different processes. IAFT-1 — to the court, within 14 days. Further Submissions — to the Home Office, after a final refusal.
Frequently asked questions
?How much does an appeal cost?
£0 if on Section 95 — attach a copy of your letter when filing. Without Section 95: £140 (with hearing) or £80 (without hearing). You can apply for fee remission — reduction or full waiver. A Legal Aid lawyer is also free.
?More than 14 days have passed — can I still file?
Yes. File with an explanation of why you are late (you were ill, didn't have a lawyer, didn't receive the letter on time, language barrier). The court decides individually — they often accept. Don't waste time on doubts: every extra day makes the explanation harder.
?What happens to my housing during the appeal?
Section 95 (housing + ASPEN card) remains active the entire time your appeal is ongoing. You will not be evicted or have payments stopped. If this does happen, call Migrant Help 0808 8010 503 immediately: it's an error that can be challenged.
?How long until the hearing?
You must file within 14 days. But the tribunal sets a hearing date 6–12 months later — the court is overloaded. This is normal. Housing and money are preserved the whole time. Use the wait to prepare with your lawyer.
?Do I need a lawyer?
You can file IAFT-1 yourself in 10 minutes. But a lawyer will prepare grounds of appeal, gather evidence and represent you in court — this significantly improves your chances. A Legal Aid lawyer is free. Find one through startnewlife.uk/en/database/lawyers/
?What do I need to file the form?
The refusal letter from the Home Office (it has the reference number), an email for the tribunal website account, your address and phone number. That's it — nothing else is needed to register the appeal. Evidence is gathered later, for the hearing.
?If I lose the appeal — what next?
There are three routes: (1) Upper Tribunal — if the FtT made an error of law (12 working days); (2) Further Submissions (Para 353) — if new substantial evidence has emerged; (3) Judicial Review — if the Home Office breached procedure. All routes require a lawyer.
?Can I work during the appeal?
Usually not — the right to work for asylum seekers is only granted if the Home Office has not made a decision within 12 months. During an appeal, check with your lawyer about your specific situation; it depends on the details of your case.