Asylum seekers are not permitted to work in the UK while their asylum claim is being considered.

There are, however, limited circumstances in which someone who has been waiting a long time for an asylum decision can apply to the Home Office for permission to work.

Permission is not automatic after 12 months, and if it is granted, significant restrictions apply to the types of jobs that can be taken. The rules also changed in March 2026, making it particularly important to check the conditions that apply to your individual permission rather than relying on general information.

This guide explains who can apply, what jobs are permitted and what happens when your asylum claim is eventually decided.

For wider guidance, visit our Asylum & Refugee Support page.

LawNeeds is not a law firm and does not replace regulated legal advice.

Can You Work While Claiming Asylum in the UK?

In most cases, no.

The Home Office states that people who claim asylum are not permitted to work while their claim is being considered.

Instead, people who would otherwise be destitute can be eligible for asylum support, including accommodation and financial support for essential living needs.

Do not start working simply because you have made an asylum claim or have been waiting for a decision.

You must establish that you have permission to work and understand any conditions attached to that permission before taking employment.

When Can an Asylum Seeker Apply for Permission to Work?

An asylum seeker will normally be eligible to apply for permission to work where all three of the following apply:

  • Their asylum claim has been outstanding for more than 12 months
  • The Home Office has not yet made an initial decision
  • The delay was not the asylum seeker’s fault

There are also limited exceptional circumstances in which the Home Office may consider granting permission to work outside the normal Immigration Rules requirements.

The Home Office considers whether the applicant contributed to the delay when deciding the application.

Reaching 12 months does not automatically give someone the right to work. It creates the possibility of applying for permission – nothing more.

What Does “More Than 12 Months” Mean?

The relevant period relates to how long the asylum claim has been waiting for an initial Home Office decision – not the total time someone has been in the asylum system.

Home Office caseworker guidance states that the protection claim must have been outstanding for more than 12 months and still be awaiting a UKVI decision.

For example, if the Home Office refused an asylum claim within 12 months and the person is now waiting for an appeal, that does not qualify them for permission to work under the 12-month rule.

The rule concerns the delay in the Home Office making its initial decision.

What If the Delay Was Your Fault?

Permission to work can be refused if the Home Office concludes you were responsible for the delay in deciding your asylum claim.

Home Office guidance says caseworkers consider issues such as whether an applicant failed to cooperate with the asylum process or was responsible for prolonged periods of non-compliance.

Individual circumstances matter.

The guidance states that serious illness can provide an acceptable explanation for a failure to comply with a required procedure.

If the Home Office believes you contributed to the delay but there was a genuine reason, relevant supporting evidence can make a real difference. Consider seeking regulated immigration advice before submitting your application.

Does Permission to Work Start Automatically After 12 Months?

No.

You must apply to the Home Office and receive permission before starting work, unless you already have an existing right to work for another reason.

The current process requires asylum seekers to complete Form PTW1 – Permission to Work.

Do not assume that an outstanding claim provides permission.

Working without permission can have serious immigration and legal consequences.

How Do You Apply for Permission to Work?

The current GOV.UK process requires you to complete Form PTW1 and send it to the Home Office Permission to Work Team.

When applying, you must:

  • Complete all required fields
  • Provide a copy of your Application Registration Card, or ARC
  • Provide relevant supporting evidence
  • Explain whether the application relates to an asylum claim or further submissions
  • Provide evidence relevant to any delay for which the Home Office could consider you responsible

There is currently no fee for an application for permission to work.

Check the current GOV.UK instructions before submitting – forms and submission arrangements can change.

What Jobs Can an Asylum Seeker Do If Permission Is Granted?

Permission to work for an asylum seeker is restricted – not a general right to take any job.

The rules that apply depend on when you submitted your permission-to-work application.

Applications Submitted Before 26 March 2026

Where permission is granted, employment is restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List or Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF Level 6 or above.

Applications Submitted on or After 26 March 2026

Where permission is granted, employment is restricted to occupations in Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF Level 6 or above – broadly, graduate-level or professional roles.

This is confirmed directly in the Home Office’s Version 18.0 guidance, updated 26 March 2026.

Because the rules changed, do not rely on general information telling you that asylum seekers can work in any job after 12 months. Check the conditions attached to your specific permission.

Can an Asylum Seeker Work in Any Job After 12 Months?

No – this is one of the most common misunderstandings about asylum and employment.

Even where permission to work is granted, it is restricted permission. The job must fall within the permitted occupations, and both the salary requirements and qualification requirements for that occupation must be met.

The Home Office states that it is the responsibility of the asylum seeker and the prospective employer to ensure that:

  • The occupation is permitted
  • Relevant salary requirements are met
  • The person is appropriately qualified for the role

Permission to work does not mean you can accept any job offered to you.

Can Asylum Seekers Be Self-Employed?

No. Permission to work granted under the asylum rules does not allow self-employment, business activity or professional activity outside the permitted employment conditions.

If you are unsure whether a particular arrangement counts as employment or self-employment, consider getting professional advice before undertaking the work.

What Happens to Your ARC If You Get Permission to Work?

The Application Registration Card, commonly known as the ARC, records information about an asylum seeker’s status.

If permission to work is granted, the Home Office issues a new ARC confirming that permission. The previous card is cancelled.

Your right to work is shown in the remarks section of the ARC.

GOV.UK guidance states that the card should say “Work permitted” where the holder has permission to work, followed by any specific conditions.

If the information on your ARC appears incorrect, raise this with the Home Office before starting any employment. Do not assume you can work if the card does not clearly say so.

How Does an Employer Check an Asylum Seeker’s Right to Work?

An employer must check that someone has the legal right to undertake the job being offered before you start.

For an asylum seeker using an ARC to demonstrate permission to work, the employer must use the Home Office Employer Checking Service.

The Home Office then confirms whether you have permission to work and whether the proposed employment is permitted.

An ARC showing that you are an asylum claimant does not, by itself, mean that employment is permitted. The employer cannot simply accept the card at face value – the Employer Checking Service check is mandatory.

Do You Need a National Insurance Number?

If your permission-to-work application succeeds, the Home Office decision letter will provide information about obtaining a National Insurance number.

GOV.UK states that someone can begin work before receiving their National Insurance number provided they can prove their right to work in the UK.

Follow the instructions provided by the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions – do not simply wait for the number to arrive before considering your next steps.

Can You Work If You Already Had a Visa Allowing Employment?

Different rules can apply if you claimed asylum while you still had valid immigration permission that already allowed you to work.

Home Office guidance states that where an asylum claim was made before existing leave expired, and that leave allowed employment, your previous permission can continue under section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 while the asylum claim is being determined.

The same employment conditions that applied to the previous immigration permission continue to apply.

If the asylum claim was made after the previous permission had already expired, the previous right to work does not continue.

This is a legally important distinction, so obtain regulated immigration advice if you are unsure whether your previous permission remains valid.

Can Dependants of Asylum Seekers Work?

Being included as a dependant on another person’s asylum claim does not give someone the right to apply for permission to work under the 12-month asylum rule.

Home Office guidance states that the provision applies to the principal asylum applicant.

A dependant would need to have made an asylum claim in their own right to be eligible to make their own permission-to-work application.

Permission granted to the main asylum applicant does not extend automatically to their dependants.

Can Children Seeking Asylum Work?

Children under 18 are not granted permission to take employment under the asylum permission-to-work rules.

However, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and children who are dependants of asylum seekers are entitled to access education while their claim is being considered.

They can also participate in work experience or training where it forms a genuine part of their education.

Can Asylum Seekers Volunteer?

Yes.

Volunteering is treated differently from paid employment.

The Home Office encourages asylum seekers to volunteer while their claim is being considered, and permission from the Home Office is not required simply to undertake genuine volunteering.

However, there is an important distinction between being a volunteer and working without payment.

Home Office guidance states that volunteering must not amount to engagement as an employee or worker. Both the individual and the organisation must ensure the arrangement genuinely meets the requirements of volunteering.

Do not use an unpaid arrangement as a way of doing work you are not legally permitted to undertake.

Can You Receive Asylum Support If You Start Working?

Starting paid employment can affect the asylum support you receive.

Current Home Office guidance states that when someone receiving asylum support obtains employment, they must report the change in their circumstances so that eligibility and the amount of support can be reviewed.

Do not assume that permission to work automatically ends all support, or that you can continue receiving exactly the same support without reporting your income.

Your financial circumstances must be reassessed.

What Happens to Permission to Work If Your Asylum Claim Is Refused?

Permission granted because an asylum claim has been outstanding does not continue indefinitely.

Home Office guidance states that the permission comes to an end where the asylum claim is refused and any appeal rights have been exhausted.

At that point, the ARC associated with the permission to work is cancelled and the person’s Home Office record is updated.

If a refusal affects your right to work, do not assume you can continue employment without checking your position first.

Asylum refusals also involve legal deadlines. Consider seeking regulated immigration advice promptly.

For more information, read What to Do If Your UK Asylum Claim Is Refused.

Can Someone With Further Submissions Apply for Permission to Work?

In certain circumstances, yes.

A person whose asylum claim was previously refused can apply for permission to work where they have made protection-based further submissions that have been outstanding for more than 12 months and they were not responsible for the delay.

This is a separate situation from someone simply waiting for an appeal.

Whether further submissions qualify under these rules depends on the nature and status of the submissions.

If this applies to you, regulated immigration advice can help you understand your position.

What Happens If You Are Granted Refugee Status?

The restrictions that apply to asylum seekers do not apply once protection is granted.

Home Office guidance states that people granted refugee status or humanitarian protection have unrestricted access to the UK labour market.

The asylum permission-to-work restrictions no longer apply once the relevant leave has been granted.

Your Home Office decision will explain your immigration status and the permission you hold.

Our guide to What Happens After You Are Granted Refugee Status in the UK? explains the wider practical steps that follow a successful asylum decision.

What Should You Do Before Accepting a Job?

If you believe you have permission to work, check the conditions carefully before accepting any employment offer.

Ask yourself:

  • Has the Home Office actually granted me permission to work?
  • Is my ARC up to date and does it say “Work permitted”?
  • What restrictions are stated in my Home Office decision?
  • Is this particular occupation permitted under the current rules?
  • Does the job fall within the relevant skilled occupation rules?
  • Has the employer completed the correct right-to-work check through the Employer Checking Service?
  • Do I need to report my earnings for asylum support purposes?
  • Has anything changed in my asylum claim that could affect my permission?
  • Do I have an existing immigration status that gives me different work rights?

Where the answer to any of these is unclear, do not guess.

Working without permission can have serious consequences – seek professional immigration advice before starting work if you are uncertain.

How LawNeeds Can Help

Questions about working while an asylum claim is pending can be confusing. The rules depend on your circumstances, how long your claim has been outstanding, when you submitted your permission-to-work application and the exact conditions attached to your permission.

LawNeeds can help you:

  • Understand the general permission-to-work process
  • Organise questions about your current immigration status
  • Understand common Home Office terminology
  • Keep important dates and documents clearer
  • Access AI-powered legal support tools
  • Prepare questions for an immigration professional
  • Identify when regulated professional support may be needed

LawNeeds cannot confirm that you personally have the right to work or determine whether a particular job satisfies your immigration conditions.

Where employment could affect your asylum status or support, consider obtaining regulated immigration advice before taking action.

LawNeeds is not a law firm and does not replace regulated legal advice.

Visit our Asylum & Refugee Support page for wider guidance.