Amin K. Excellent service. QC responded promptly, provided me with thorough, precise and easy to follow advice. Exactly what I needed when I was stressing about my daughter's citizenship status. Thank you so much.
Human rights and asylum claims in the UK
If you can’t safely return to your country, you may be able to claim asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK. If you have strong family or private life ties here, you may be able to stay on human rights grounds under Article 8. Each route has different evidence, costs and rights of appeal.
- Protection and Article 8 routes
- Most claims made in the UK
- Usually a right of appeal
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
Reviewed by Qiyin Chuah, IAA Level 3 · Last reviewed
Compare human rights and protection routes
Asylum and humanitarian protection are about risk on return. Article 8 and discretionary leave are about your life in the UK. Statelessness is about nationality.
Comparison table, scroll sideways to see every route
| Requirement | Refugee status Asylum | Serious harm Humanitarian protection | Family or private life Private and family life (Article 8) | Exceptional cases Discretionary leave | No nationality Statelessness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | People fearing persecution for a Refugee Convention reason | People facing serious harm on return who do not qualify as refugees | People qualifying on family or private life grounds, including exceptional circumstances | People with compelling exceptional circumstances not covered by another immigration route | People not recognised as nationals of any country who cannot live permanently elsewhere |
| Where you apply | In the UK, at the border or through the asylum registration process | Considered within the asylum claim | Private life: in the UK; family life: inside or outside the UK, depending on route | Usually considered in the UK, depending on the circumstances | In the UK |
| Home Office fee | No fee | No fee when considered as part of an asylum claim | Usually £1,407 for an in-country application, plus IHS where applicable; fee waivers may be available | Depends on application type; £1,407 for certain in-country applications, with exemptions or waivers possible | Free to apply |
| Initial leave | 30 months | 30 months | 30 months | Usually 30 months | 5 years |
| Leads to settlement | Potentially, under protection settlement rules; eligibility depends on the claim date and applicable requirements* | Potentially, under protection settlement rules; eligibility depends on the claim date and applicable requirements* | Yes; usually 5 or 10 years depending on route, with some children eligible sooner | Usually after 10 years | Yes, normally after 5 years with statelessness permission |
| Right of appeal if refused | Usually yes | Usually yes | Usually yes if a human rights claim is refused, subject to appeal restrictions | Depends on whether refusal also determines a protection or human rights claim | Administrative review available; no ordinary statutory appeal against refusal under the statelessness route |
| Full guide | Ask about this route | Ask about this route | Ask about this route | Ask about this route | Ask about this route |
*For asylum claims made on or after 2 March 2026, the normal initial grant is 30 months. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children generally receive five years, and exceptional longer grants are possible. The change to initial permission should not be interpreted as an automatic five-year settlement entitlement for newer claims.
What these claims usually depend on
Every claim is fact-specific. These are the points caseworkers and judges look at most.
- A credible, consistent account
Your story, interview answers and documents need to fit together.
- Evidence
Country information, medical or expert reports, and documents about you.
- Your ties to the UK
For Article 8: relationships, children’s best interests, length of residence and integration.
- Timing
Delays in claiming can count against you. Deadlines for appeals are short.
- Previous claims
A fresh claim must include new material that wasn’t considered before.
Refused, or facing removal?
Deadlines are short. An appeal usually has to be lodged within 14 days of the decision if you’re in the UK.
- Read the decision now. It sets out the reasons and the deadline for an appeal.
- Keep all your papers. Including the refusal letter and anything you sent with the claim.
- Fresh claims. If an appeal has finished, a fresh claim needs genuinely new evidence.
- Detention or removal directions. Get advice the same day.
What these claims cost
There’s no Home Office fee to claim asylum. Article 8 applications usually carry the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, though fee waivers are available if you can’t afford them.
Worked example
Article 8 application in the UK, one person
Application fee £1,407 + health surcharge 2.5 × £1,035
A fee waiver may be available if you can show you can’t afford the fee.
| Application | Fee | Health surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Asylum or humanitarian protection | No fee | None |
| Private and family life (Article 8) | £1,407 | £1,035 a year |
| Discretionary leave | £1,407 | |
| Statelessness | £1,407 | None |
| Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal | £144 | None |
Home Office fees per applicant, from the 8 April 2026 schedule.
How we can help
From a first claim to an appeal. Legal aid may be available for asylum claims; we’ll tell you if another provider would suit you better ~v.
Visa appeals If you’re refused, we assess the merits and represent you. See what’s included → Visa application package We prepare and submit your application from start to finish. See what’s included → Application checking You prepare it, a regulated adviser reviews it before you submit. See what’s included →
What our clients say
What individuals, families and businesses say about working with QC Immigration.
Amin K. 
Monya R. QC have been invaluable throughout Home Office procedures for Tier 2 /ILR applications. The entire team is dedicated, professional and responds swiftly to queries. The application process was straightforward thanks to QC's skilful team. Highly recommended.
Danille D.
Once again, QC Immigration managed to help me with my visa extension. Without them, I'd have to deal with the stress of doing the application on my own. We made the right choice of continuing to work with QC Immigration. Thank you so much!!!
Mary
Outstanding service! QC provided precise, easy to follow advice and support throughout my permanent residence application process. The team is friendly, very professional, with invaluable in depth knowledge and advice that made the all process a pleasant experience. Highly recommended!
Ching-Fei L.
QC Immigration handled our application in a way that was truly professional, clear and to the point. They explained all the options and procedures clearly to us and showed great respect for our privacy. The whole process was trouble-free and the result successful! Great value for money!
Jessica C.
The are truly amazing and lovely as well as extremely professional. They not only helped us with all the paper work but also were supportive when we were worried and getting anxious. I will definitely contact them again when the next step comes and I highly recommend them.
Warwick B.
QC guided me from application to naturalisation and passport with efficiency, knowledge, patience and care. They were recommended to me by a prestigious Law firm and I recommend them to you...
Anna R.
Having engaged QC Immigration to support my citizenship application I could not have been more satisfied with the service. My case was handled consistently by the same person. Ligia guided me through the process and made it all very simple. Any questions I had along the way were answered promptly. I have been putting off my application for years feeling overwhelmed by the bureaucracy involved. With QC Immigration support I was able to secure a successful outcome quickly and with no stress whatsoever. Charge for the service was very reasonable considering the quality of support and the responsiveness.Read the full review
Diego G.
Xiaohan was so helpful with the process and we got accepted!
Tala A.
My partner and I had a great experience with QC. Both Dorota and Ninder were professional and attentive. I’d definitely work with them again.
Scott C. I recently engaged the services of QC Immigration to assist me in getting my first British passport. I applied from outside the British Isles and my situation was somewhat complex. Ninder and Dorota from QC treated me with the utmost of professionalism and courtesy. They took the time to review and explain my situation, and guide me through the steps of the application process, ensuring that my application stayed on track. With their expert assistance, my application was processed smoothly by HMPO and I received my new passport with no issues. I would highly recommend the services of QC Immigration to anyone who needs assistance navigating immigration, citizenship, or a VISA application to the UK.Read the full review
Maria R. We couldn’t be happier with QC Immigration. My partner and I applied for the UK Unmarried Partner Visa from Italy and received the decision in only 5 days after the biometrics appointment: truly incredible. Dorota followed us with exceptional kindness and professionalism, always available and supportive despite the large amount of documents we had to prepare. A special thank you also to Ninder! We felt fully supported and reassured throughout the entire process. We are over the moon and extremely grateful. Absolutely recommended!Read the full review
Nicholas S.
QC Immigration successfully secured British Citizenship through descent for my son. It was by no means guaranteed, but their extremely thorough approach and direction ensured that everything was done clearly and successfully. A special thanks to Ligia W. who supervised the whole process with patience and diligence. Many thanks! they are extremely good at what they do and they deliver!Read the full review
Anamaria C. I am deeply grateful to Ninder J. for her invaluable support regarding my son’s citizenship application. After waiting for over a year without progress, she kindly advised me to reach out to our regional MP for assistance. Thanks to her guidance, the application was successfully reviewed and resolved. What stands out most is that Ninder offered this advice freely, without charging, simply as a gesture of good citizenship and genuine care. Her professionalism, generosity, and commitment to helping others truly impressed me. I wholeheartedly recommend Ninder J. to anyone seeking honest, knowledgeable, and compassionate legal guidance. Her support made a real difference for my family, and I will always be thankful.Read the full review
Holland W.
Just an amazing experience with this team and their information, service and advice have been amazingly helpful.
Nikul K.
My experience with QC Immigration was outstanding. Ninder provided the most accurate and straightforward guidance. She explained every detail with great clarity and honesty, which made the whole process easy to understand and stress-free. Her expertise and professionalism are truly impressive. I’m very thankful for her support and would strongly recommend QC Immigration to anyone who wants reliable and clear immigration adviceRead the full review
Solomon P. Good service 👍
Ramzi H.
I want to thank QC Immigration, especially Dorota, and Ninder for their great support. My case wasn’t easy at all – I had received a refusal with a 10-year ban because the Home Office considered one of my documents suspicious. It was a very stressful time, but Dorota took over my application and handled everything with so much care and attention. She always explained things clearly, kept me updated . What really makes Dorota special is not only her professionalism, but also her passion and the way she genuinely cares. She fought hard for fairness in my case. After months of waiting, I finally received a positive outcome, and I am sure this wouldn’t have happened without her. I’m truly grateful to Dorota. If you are looking for someone who is not only highly professional but also kind, supportive, and truly dedicated, I can’t recommend her enough.Read the full review
Emilie W.
Competent, empathetic and knowledgable support and guidance through my application for a student visa !! A special thank you to Sara and Xiaohan who supported me through it and who was always quick with answers.
Hakunawadi P.
The team is exceptionally professional, and meticulous. No excuses. I would recommend them to anyone in need any day. Thank you very much.
Questions about human rights and asylum
For route-specific questions, see each guide.
Asylum is for people who fear persecution for a Refugee Convention reason, such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion or a particular social group. Humanitarian protection covers people at real risk of serious harm who don’t meet that definition. Both are considered in the same claim.
Yes. You can claim if your circumstances change or you couldn’t claim earlier, but delay can affect how your account is judged. Claim as soon as you can and explain any delay.
A claim that removing you from the UK would breach your right to respect for private and family life. It usually relies on a partner, children, or long residence in the UK. The Home Office weighs your ties against immigration control.
Usually not. You can ask for permission to work if your claim has been waiting more than 12 months through no fault of yours, and then only in jobs on the shortage list.
It varies widely, from months to more than a year. You’ll have to attend a screening interview and later a substantive interview. Keep your contact details up to date with the Home Office throughout.
You’ll usually have a right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal, with a short deadline. Read the decision letter for the date. If appeal rights are exhausted, you may be able to make a fresh claim with new evidence.
Tell us what you need help with
A regulated adviser reviews your situation and comes back with an honest next step within one working day.
- An IAA-regulated UK immigration adviser reviews your case.
- A personal reply with your next step, within one working day.
- No payment required. Fixed fees if you proceed.
- 4.9 on Google
- IAA Level 3 · the highest tier
- 7,000+ clients helped
- Fast-track support
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