Asylum

People may flee their countries because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons including race, nationality, religion, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. In the UK, asylum is considered under the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.

The UK is also a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, which prevents removal where there is a real risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Where a person does not qualify for asylum, they may in some circumstances be granted permission to stay for humanitarian or other reasons. Tamsons Legal Services offers advice on the procedure and process of making an asylum application.