What is an asylum seeker?
An asylum seeker is someone who has left their country, often suddenly, because they are faced with persecution, war or violence and cannot get protection there.
This short video provided by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, or the Refugee Agency may help explain.
Why are they coming?
They have fled war-torn countries, were trafficked to the UK or faced persecution and violence. They have temporary accommodation until their asylum request has been processed.
The number of refugees and people seeking asylum goes up and down, depending on what is happening in the world. Conflict in several countries has swelled recent figures.
It is worth noting that only 0.7 per cent of the UK population are refugees or asylum seekers.
Most asylum seekers flee over their nearest border, where they are likely to live in camps.
This can be seen in the case of Syria. Of the 6.7 million Syrian refugees globally, 4.6 million are being hosted by its neighbours – Turkey and Lebanon.
Asylum seekers come from many parts of the world. Statistics suggest that highest numbers come from Iran, Eritrea, Albania, Iraq and Syria.
Why don’t asylum seekers stay in the first safe country?
Most do. 80% of the world’s asylum seekers and refugees are living in countries neighbouring their country of origin.
The number one reason that asylum seekers give for continuing their journey to the UK is that they have family ties here. This covers over 50% of cases. Other factors that people will take into account are more practical, for example, if you speak the language, you have more chance of being able to find a job and you can navigate everyday tasks like understanding public transport or going shopping.
It is also not uncommon for asylum seekers to also state their belief that the UK is a safe, tolerant and democratic country and refer to previous links between their own country and the UK.
There is no legal requirement for an asylum seeker to make their claim in any particular country.
What about bogus/illegal asylum seekers?
There is no such thing as an ‘illegal’ or ‘bogus’ asylum seeker.
Under international law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and to remain there until the authorities have assessed their claim. This is a legal process.
Can asylum seekers claim welfare benefits?
No, asylum seekers are not able to claim welfare benefits, nor are they allowed to work.
Asylum seekers in temporary accommodation while waiting for their asylum application to be processed receive basic food and shared accommodation (usually around two or three people in a room) and receive less than £9 per week.
What are the reasons for people seeking asylum?
However, information on the government’s website says:
To be eligible for asylum, people must have left their country and be unable to go back because of fear of persecution.
This persecution must be because of:
- race
- religion
- nationality
- political opinion
- anything else that puts the person at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in their country, for example, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation
The annual number of asylum applications to the UK peaked in 2002 at 84,132. After that the number fell sharply to reach a twenty-year low point of 17,916 in 2010. It rose steadily throughout the 2010s, then rapidly from 2021 onwards to reach 81,130 applications in 2022, the highest annual number since 2002.
(Source: Asylum statistics September 2024 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01403/)
What is the difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker?
Asylum seekers - When someone flees their own country, for example due to war, they can claim asylum as they arrive in another country.
An asylum seeker will then have their claim for asylum assessed (which can be a lengthy process, during which they have limited rights).
Once submitted, an asylum request will have one of three outcomes:
- Full refugee status (indefinite leave to remain).
- Temporary leave to remain for between 1-5 years
- A refusal, applicants may appeal against a refusal and can remain in the UK whilst appealing. If the appeal is unsuccessful they must return to their home country.
Until they receive a decision as to whether or not they are a refugee, they are known as an asylum seeker.
The 1951 Refugee Convention guarantees anyone the right to apply for asylum in another country that has also signed the Convention. It also guarantees that they can remain there until their claim has been processed.
Refugees - In the UK, refugees are people who have been granted asylum and have the right to stay in the UK.
Are people actually economic migrants?
Where people are claiming asylum from the Home Office, they are recognised as asylum seekers and are waiting for their asylum application to be assessed.
The UK asylum system is strictly controlled and complex. However, the majority of asylum claims are successful. In the year ending June 2022, 76% of initial decisions resulted in a grant of asylum or other form of protection. (Source, Home Office statistics.)
The Home Office are responsible for processing claims for asylum.
Where asylum is granted, people are recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention and are allowed to remain in the UK for five years. At the end of five years, subject to the outcome of any review and to the policies in place at the time, people can seek indefinite leave to remain.