Overview of the legal framework

United Kingdom

Country Report: Overview of the legal framework Last updated: 24/04/24

Author

Refugee Council Visit Website

Main legislative acts relevant to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention and content of protection

Title (EN) Abbreviation Web Link
Immigration Act 1971 IA 1971 http://bit.ly/1JKaigx
Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 IAA 1999 http://bit.ly/1C2MkVQ
Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 NIAA 2002 http://bit.ly/1Sat0PR
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004 AITOCA 2004 http://bit.ly/1Sat3Lt
Borders Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 BCIA 2009 http://bit.ly/1L4XlOC
Immigration Act 2014 IA 2014 http://bit.ly/1cPORMc
Immigration Act 2016 IA 2016 http://bit.ly/2jqhiEv
Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 https://bit.ly/2M7jiFO
Nationality and Borders Act 2022 NABA 2022 https://bit.ly/3tzLljl
Illegal Migration Act 2023 IMA 2023 https://bit.ly/3uK4T8Y

 

Main implementing decrees and administrative guidelines and regulations relevant to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention and content of protection

Title (EN) Abbreviation Web Link
Immigration Rules HC 395 Part 11 Immigration Rules http://bit.ly/1FY1JYi
Immigration Rules HC 395 Part 11B Immigration Rules http://bit.ly/1KKr1zi
Immigration Rules HC 395 Part 12 Immigration Rules http://bit.ly/1MOpgjX
Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 SI 7 Reception Conditions Regs 2005 http://bit.ly/1L52LsU
Asylum Support Regulations 2000 SI 704 Asylum Support Regs 2000 http://bit.ly/1C2R7GQ
Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2005 SI 11 Asylum Support Regs 2005 http://bit.ly/1Fd2wUj
Transfer for Determination of an Application for International Protection (Detention) (Significant Risk of Absconding Criteria) Regulations 2017 Dublin Retention Regs 2017 http://bit.ly/2jTZ6Ir
The Detention Centre Rules 2001 SI 238 Detention Centre Rules http://bit.ly/1GBXGY2
Detention Service Orders DSOs http://bit.ly/1MOpyr7
Asylum Process Guidance and Asylum Policy Instructions APG/API http://bit.ly/1BaVIvv
The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Immigration and Asylum)

Asylum Chamber) Rules 2014 (S.I. 2014 No.2604 (L.31))

Procedural Rules http://bit.ly/1eawcw7
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules 2018 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/2weGiYf
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules 2019 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/2tkZNQL
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules October 2020 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/3iCSM2P
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules December 2020 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/2LVidRp
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules September 2021 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/33KzyF2
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules December 2021 Immigration Rules https://bit.ly/3tBK1NX
Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2022 Regulations https://bit.ly/3LSiFd5
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules Immigration Rules (shortage occupation list https://bit.ly/3h4sFSw
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules Immigration Rules (settlement protection) https://bit.ly/3viR5jk
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules March 2022 Immigration Rules (including 3 Ukraine schemes) https://bit.ly/3EfVCWZ
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules May 2022 Immigration Rules (including implementation of NAB Act and amendments to Ukraine sponsor scheme) https://bit.ly/3Gkx5T3

 

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules July 2022 Immigration Rules (extension of Ukraine sponsor scheme to unaccompanied children) https://bit.ly/3UIhVLU

 

Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules October 2022 Immigration Rules (including amendments to Afghan relocation scheme eligibility and amendment to Ukraine extension scheme eligibility) https://bit.ly/3hFh2ox
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1160, 9 March 2023

 

Immigration Rules (including changes to interviews for child asylum seekers and refugee family reunion) https://bit.ly/4bIDC7p
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1496, 17 July 2023

Immigration Rules (including the end of differentiation treatment in grants of leave for asylum seekers, and expansion of grounds for withdrawal of asylum claims) https://bit.ly/4bPfC2n
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1715, 19 July 2023

Immigration Rules (including addition of Honduras and Namibia to the list of countries whose nationals must apply for a visa in advance of coming to the UK due to the number of asylum claims from these countries) https://bit.ly/4bL8Avw
Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 246, 7 December 2023 Immigration Rules (including changes to statelessness applications) https://bit.ly/3wqDSYu
The Illegal Migration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 Regulations https://bit.ly/49DwS9D
The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2023 Regulations https://bit.ly/42O27fg

 

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection