Applying for asylum support

This content applies to England only.

Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland

To apply for asylum support, you must fill in an application form at a One Stop Service or Induction Centre. You will be directed to an Induction Centre if you arrive at an appropriate port.

Where do I apply for asylum support?

For your nearest One Stop Service, contact Migrant Helpline on 01304 203977. Staff there will help you to fill in the form and provide an interpreter for you, if necessary. If you have any identification documents, such as birth certificates, you should take these with you. If you have dependants (ie children) you don’t need to fill in a separate form for each of them. One form per household is enough.

When do I apply for asylum support?

You should apply when you need help, but if you don’t need help yet, you can apply at any time before your asylum claim is processed.

You could be housed in emergency accommodation, if you:

have claimed asylum
have applied for asylum support (and are still waiting for UKBA’s decision)
have nowhere else to stay.

You could be in emergency accommodation for around six to eight weeks while your UKBA application is being processed. Food and basic necessities will be provided in the accommodation.

It's important that while you are in emergency accommodation, you should think about the options you might have if your UKBA application is unsuccessful.

What support can I get?

Asylum support usually includes a weekly cash instalment for basic essentials. An extra payment is made to pregnant women and mothers with children under 3 years old.

In exceptional circumstances, UKBA may decide you need help with other costs. This is known as an ‘exceptional payment’.