startnewlife Mendee CIC · London
Are you in danger?   999 (police/ambulance)  |  0808 196 7272 (Refugee Council)
Asylum in the UK is your legal right
Claiming asylum is free. Interpreter, lawyer, housing — all provided. Do not pay anyone.

Important 2026 changes

From 2 March 2026 — refugee status is granted for 30 months (previously 5 years), with subsequent review. Applies to new applications.
Applications before 1 March 2026 — still 5 years.
Family reunification visa temporarily suspended until spring 2026.

What to do and in what order

Tap a step to see the details

1
Say "I need asylum" 🛂
How to claim: airport, boat, or already in the UK
2
Screening interview — 30 minutes 😅
Short questionnaire with an interpreter
3
Housing + money + ARC card
Hotel + £49/week + card in 3 days
4
Waiting for interview — 2-6 weeks 🤔
Free: GP, lawyer, ESOL classes
5
Substantive interview — ~2.5 hours 😰
You tell your full story
6
Waiting for decision — 3 days to 12+ months
Can apply to work after 12 months waiting
7
Decision arrived! 🎉
"Yes" → status. "No" → appeal (50% win)
1
Claim
2
Screening
3
Housing
4
Waiting
5
Interview
6
Decision
7
Result
🛂
How to claim
Pick how you got to the UK

🛬 Arrived by plane

At passport control, say: "I want to claim asylum". Everything else will be done right there at the airport.

🛥️ Arrived by boat

You've already been picked up. They will take you where you need to go, take your fingerprints, and put you in a hotel. You don't need to do anything.

🏠 Already in the UK (visa expired, came as a tourist, studied here)

England, Wales, Scotland:

Call: 📞 0300 123 4193
Mon-Thu 9:00-16:45 · Fri 9:00-16:30

If you have nowhere to sleep — just go, no need to call first:
Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon CR9 2BY
Mon-Fri 7:30-16:00

Northern Ireland (Belfast):

Go in person to Drumkeen House, 1 Drumkeen Complex, Upper Galwally, Belfast BT8 6TB. Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00. Tel. 02890 191 005.
In the evening/at night — go to the police station Musgrave Police Station, 60 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GL.

🚫 Don't pay anyone. It's all free.

Document translation — prvd.ldn →

🎬 Videos

Last updated: March 2026
Sources: GOV.UK, Right to Remain, UNHCR
⚠️ StartNewLife is an information project — not regulated by the IAA (Immigration Advice Authority). We do not provide immigration advice within the meaning of Section 84 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999. All content is general information only and does not replace advice from a regulated lawyer (IAA / SRA / BSB) about your specific case.