The Home Office may grant you permission to work if your asylum claim has been outstanding for more than 12 months through no fault of your own. This may be 12 months after initially claiming asylum, or 12 months after submitting further submissions on protection grounds to be considered as a fresh claim.

Under this policy, those who are granted permission to work and have submitted an application on or before 26 March 2026 are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List published by the Home Office. Any applications submitted on or after 26 March 2026, who are granted, are restricted to jobs on the Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF level 6 or above.

If you had been given permission to work as part of another UK visa, then as long as your application for asylum was made in time (while the original visa was still valid) you will usually be allowed to continue to work. Further information and help regarding your visa rights, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk

Some asylum seekers may receive explicit permission to work from the Home Office. Individuals with that permission must:

  • Declare any change to their employment status to Asylum Support as a change of circumstances. Failure to do so is a breach of support conditions.
    For assistance reporting a change in circumstances, please contact Migrant Help on 0808 8010 503.
  • comply strictly with the work conditions attached to their permission.
  • only work in occupations permitted by your work conditions. 
  • be able to show your permission to work if requested by the Home Office or your accommodation provider.

Failure to follow the conditions of your permission to work may result in the withdrawal of that permission and a review of your entitlement to support.