Permission to Work for Asylum Seekers in the UK

Quick Answer

An asylum seeker can usually only apply for permission to work if they are the main applicant, aged 18 or over, and their asylum claim or protection based further submissions have been waiting for a Home Office decision for more than 12 months through no fault of their own.

If permission is granted, it is normally restricted. Since 26 March 2026, new grants are restricted to jobs listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF level 6 or above, unless a different rule or exceptional circumstance applies. You should always check the actual Home Office permission letter because it tells you what work is allowed.

Who Can Apply for Permission to Work?

The Home Office guidance says applications are considered under Part 11B of the Immigration Rules. The usual starting point is that the person must have an asylum claim, or protection based further submissions, that have been outstanding for more than 12 months.

• You must normally be aged 18 or over.
• You must normally be the main asylum applicant.
• Your asylum claim or protection based further submissions must still be waiting for a UKVI decision.
• The delay must not be your fault.
• You should have complied with Home Office requests, interviews and reporting requirements.

If your asylum claim has been refused and you are only waiting for an appeal, you are not usually eligible under this route. If you have made protection based further submissions and those further submissions have been outstanding for more than 12 months, the position may be different.

How to Apply for Permission to Work

Permission to work is not issued automatically. You must apply to the Home Office using the Permission to Work form PTW1.

The Home Office guidance says applications can be sent to the Permission to Work Team, Level 0, Capital Building, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9PP. Applications can also be emailed to the relevant Home Office team.

• Use AsylumPTW@homeoffice.gov.uk if you are waiting for a first asylum decision.
• Use FurthersubmissionsPTW@homeoffice.gov.uk if you are waiting after protection based further submissions.
• Use the correct PTW1 form because an incomplete or incorrect email request may be rejected.
• Keep a copy of your application, evidence and any proof of posting or email sending.

If you have a solicitor, caseworker or regulated adviser, ask them to check whether you qualify before applying. This can be important if there are issues about delay, reporting, criminality, further submissions or existing leave.

What Jobs Are Allowed if Permission Is Granted?

Being granted permission to work does not usually mean you can work in any job. The job list depends on when your permission was granted and what your Home Office letter says.

• If permission was granted before 4 April 2024, it may refer to the old Shortage Occupation List.
• If permission was granted on or after 4 April 2024, it may refer to the Immigration Salary List.
• If permission was granted on or after 26 March 2026, it is normally restricted to Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF level 6 or above.

You and the employer should check the occupation code and restrictions before starting work. The job must match the permission granted. Working outside the conditions can create serious immigration, criminal and asylum support problems.

Permission to work does not normally allow self-employment, running a business, delivery app work, freelance work or professional activity outside the permitted conditions.

How Do You Prove the Right to Work?

If your permission to work application is successful, the Home Office should send a decision letter. That letter is important because it explains the conditions and restrictions of your permission. You may also receive an updated Application Registration Card and updated immigration bail paperwork.

Asylum seekers may not be able to prove the right to work through a normal share code in the same way as many other migrants. Employers may need to use the Employer Checking Service and obtain a Positive Verification Notice.

• Keep your Home Office decision letter safe.
• Keep your updated ARC safe if you receive one.
• Show the employer the exact restrictions before accepting a job.
• Ask the employer to complete the correct right to work check before you start.
• Stop working if your permission ends or is revoked.

Can Asylum Seekers Volunteer?

Yes. The Home Office guidance says asylum seekers can volunteer at any stage of the asylum process. This does not require permission to work, but it must be genuine volunteering.

Volunteering usually means giving time freely to a charity, voluntary organisation or public sector organisation for the benefit of others or the community. It must not become disguised employment.

• There should be no wages or payment other than genuine expenses such as travel or meals actually incurred.
• There should be no contract requiring you to work fixed hours like an employee.
• The organisation should not use volunteers to replace paid staff.
• The volunteering must not stop you attending asylum interviews, reporting events or Home Office appointments.
• The organisation should complete any safeguarding checks needed for the role.

If the role involves payment, regular required shifts, benefits in kind or duties that look like a normal job, get advice before continuing.

What if You Claimed Asylum Before Another Visa Expired?

The Home Office guidance explains an important situation. If someone had existing leave in the UK, such as a Student visa or Skilled Worker visa, and they claimed asylum before that leave expired, Section 3C leave may continue their previous visa conditions while the asylum claim is pending.

This means that if the earlier visa allowed work, the person may be able to continue working on the same conditions as that previous visa until the asylum claim is finally determined. This is different from applying for permission to work under the 12 month asylum rule.

If asylum was claimed after the previous visa expired, Section 3C leave will not normally preserve the old work conditions. This is an area where advice is important because the timing and previous visa conditions matter.

Why Permission to Work May Be Refused

The Home Office may refuse permission to work if the requirements are not met. Common reasons include the following.

• The asylum claim has not been outstanding for more than 12 months.
• The further submissions are not protection based.
• The delay was caused by the applicant missing appointments or failing to provide information.
• The applicant has absconded or has not kept in contact with the Home Office.
• The delay is linked to criminal proceedings or criminality concerns.
• The person applying is a dependant rather than the main asylum applicant.

Exceptional circumstances can be considered, but the Home Office guidance says grants outside the Immigration Rules are expected to be rare. If you think exceptional circumstances apply, prepare evidence and get advice before applying.

What to Prepare Before Applying

• Your Home Office reference number.
• Your full name, date of birth and current address.
• Your ARC details if you have an Application Registration Card.
• The date you claimed asylum or made protection based further submissions.
• Evidence that your claim or further submissions are still waiting for a UKVI decision.
• Evidence explaining why any delay is not your fault.
• Evidence of compliance with interviews, reporting and Home Office requests.
• Any evidence of exceptional circumstances if you rely on them.

Frequently Asked Questions