Country Report: Overview of the legal framework
Last updated: 15/06/26
Main legislative acts relevant to asylum procedures, reception conditions, detention and content of protection
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 | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules |
| Immigration Rules HC 395 Part 11B | Immigration Rules | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-11b |
| Immigration Rules HC 395 Part 12 | Immigration Rules | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-part-12-procedure-and-rights-of-appeal |
| Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2005 SI 7 | Reception Conditions Regs 2005 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/7/contents/made |
| Asylum Support Regulations 2000 SI 704 | Asylum Support Regs 2000 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/704/contents/made |
| Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2005 SI 11 | Asylum Support Regs 2005 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/11/made |
| The Detention Centre Rules 2001 SI 238 | Detention Centre Rules | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/238/contents/made |
| Detention Service Orders | DSOs | https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/detention-service-orders |
| Asylum Process Guidance and Asylum Policy Instructions | APG/API | https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/visas-and-immigration-operational-guidance |
| The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Immigration and Asylum)
Asylum Chamber) Rules 2014 |
Procedural Rules | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2604 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 617, 10 September 2021 | Immigration Rules | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-617-10-september-2021 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 913, 14 December 2021 | Immigration Rules | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-913-14-december |
| Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2022 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/78/made |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1019, 24 January 2022 | Immigration Rules (shortage occupation list) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1019-24-january-2022 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1220, 29 March 2022 | Immigration Rules (including three Ukraine schemes) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1220-29-march-2022 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 17, 11 May 2022 | Immigration Rules (including implementation of NAB Act and amendments to Ukraine sponsor scheme) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc17-11-may-2022 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 511, 20 July 2022 | Immigration Rules (extension of Ukraine sponsor scheme to unaccompanied children) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc511-20-july-2022
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| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 719, 18 October 2022 | Immigration Rules (including amendments to Afghan relocation scheme eligibility and amendment to Ukraine extension scheme eligibility) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc719-18-october-2022 |
| 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://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1160-9-march-2023 |
| 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://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1496-17-july-2023 |
| 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://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1715-19-july-2023 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 246, 7 December 2023 | Immigration Rules (including changes to statelessness applications) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-246-7-december-2023 |
| The Illegal Migration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/989/contents/made | |
| The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2023 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1372/contents/made |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 556, 19 February 2024 | Immigration Rules (closure of Ukraine schemes) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-556-19-february-2024 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 590, 14 March 2024 | Immigration Rules (Appendix Salary List) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-590-14-march-2024 |
| The Illegal Migration Act 2023 (Amendment) Regulations 2024 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/815/made | |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 217, 10 September 2024 | Immigration Rules (visa regime on Jordan) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-217-10-september-2024 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 334, 26 November 2024 | Immigration Rules (visa regime on Colombia, changes to Ukraine schemes) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-334-26-november-2024 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 733, 12 March 2025 | Immigration Rules (visa regime on Trinidad & Tobago, changes to Ukraine schemes) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-733-12-march-2025 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 836, 24 June 2025 | Immigration Rules | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-836-24-june-2025 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 997, 1 July 2025 | Immigration Rules (closure of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-997-1-july-2025 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: CP 1373, 5 August 2025 | Immigration Rules (establishment of the UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-cp-1373-5-august-2025 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1298, 4 September 2025 | Immigration Rules (suspension of refugee family reunion scheme) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1298-4-september-2025 |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1333, 14 October 2025 | Immigration Rules (changes to statelessness family members, imposition of a visit visa requirement for nationals of Botswana, changes to Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1333-14-october-2025 |
| The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2025 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/1318/made |
| The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2026 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/59/contents/made |
| The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2026 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/163/made |
| The Asylum Support (Amendment) Regulations 2026 | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/209/made |
| Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 1691, 5 March 2026 | Immigration Rules (changes to length of refugee leave for new applicants, changes to further submissions process) | https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-to-the-immigration-rules-hc-1619-5-march-2026 |
| The Immigration and Asylum (Provision of Accommodation to Failed Asylum-Seekers) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (draft) | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348280463 |
| The Asylum Seekers (Reception Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (draft) | Regulations | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2026/9780348280296 |