Permission to Work While an Asylum Claim Is Pending in the UK

This guide explains the separate UK process for asking to work while an asylum claim or qualifying protection-based further submission is awaiting an initial Home Office decision. An asylum claim does not normally give permission to work. Passing a time threshold only makes an application possible in some cases; it does not grant permission automatically.

Who this process is for

The ordinary position is that a person seeking asylum cannot take employment while the claim is being considered. The Home Office may consider a request under paragraph 360 of Part 11B where no first-instance decision has been taken within one year after the asylum claim was recorded. The Rules say the delay must not, in the Secretary of State's opinion, be attributable to the applicant. This is an individual decision, not a calculation that can be made from the calendar alone.

There is a separate route under paragraph 360C for some people whose asylum claim was refused but who later lodged protection-based further submissions. The relevant decision on those further submissions must remain pending for more than one year from the date they were recorded, and the same delay condition applies. A pending appeal against the original refusal is not itself enough: GOV.UK says an applicant is not eligible under this process if a decision has already been made and only an appeal is pending.

If the Home Office says that part of the delay was caused by missed appointments, lack of cooperation or another issue, do not assume the answer. The caseworker must assess the case and any explanation or supporting evidence. The published guidance gives serious illness as an example of a circumstance that may explain non-compliance; it does not guarantee that a particular explanation will be accepted. Get regulated immigration advice if the timeline or reason for delay is disputed.

How to make a request

The current application form is PTW1. The public guidance says to complete it fully, identify whether it concerns an asylum claim or further submissions, provide a copy of the Application Registration Card (ARC), and include relevant evidence. Depending on the case, that may include the previous permission document or evidence relevant to the delay. The application has no fee. Follow the current form and submission instructions; the Home Office's public page warns that an incomplete application may be rejected and duplicate copies may delay it.

Keep a copy of the completed form, attachments, submission proof and every Home Office response. The accessible caseworker guidance says requests should be dealt with without unnecessary delay, but it does not promise a fixed decision time. If the Home Office rejects a request, follow the current guidance and get advice about whether a further application with additional evidence is appropriate.

What a grant does and does not allow

Under the current Part 11B text, permission granted under paragraph 360 is limited to a job that, when the offer is accepted, is included in Appendix Skilled Occupations and considered skilled at RQF level 6 or above on the Skilled Worker route. It does not allow self-employment or setting up a business. Check the live occupation code and the grant conditions for the exact job; a job title by itself does not show that the role qualifies.

There is an important source discrepancy. GOV.UK's public-facing page, updated 19 October 2026, still says in one paragraph that a successful applicant may work only in jobs on the Immigration Salary List, while the same page also mentions the RQF 6+ restriction. The current Part 11B Rules and Home Office caseworker guidance version 18.0, published 26 March 2026, state the RQF 6+ Appendix Skilled Occupations restriction for applications submitted on or after 26 March 2026. Because the public wording is inconsistent, applicants and employers should check the live Rules and written grant, and seek advice if the documents do not align. This guide does not treat an occupation as eligible based only on the older list wording.

The permission is not general leave to remain and does not itself grant access to public funds. If you take work, the public guidance instructs you to report the change to Migrant Help so asylum support can review the household's support and eligibility. Keep immigration permission, right-to-work evidence, earnings and support reporting as separate checks.

ARC, existing permission and the end of permission

The ARC is evidence that an asylum claim was made. If permission to work is granted, GOV.UK says a new ARC will be issued to show that permission; the previous ARC is cancelled. The decision letter explains the permission granted and the process for obtaining a National Insurance number. An ARC is not a substitute for checking the exact work remark and current permission record. Employers should use the current Home Office right-to-work checking guidance and the documents or digital service applicable to that person.

Some people claim asylum while they still hold another visa or leave that permits work. GOV.UK says a person who applied in time, before that permission expired, will usually be able to continue working on the previous conditions while the application is pending, without making a paragraph 360 request. This depends on the person's exact leave and application history; it is not a general permission created by making an asylum claim. If the asylum claim was made after the previous visa expired, the old work conditions do not continue on that basis.

Permission granted under paragraph 360 ends when the asylum claim is finally determined. The caseworker guidance says work permission ceases after refusal once appeal rights are exhausted. If protection or another form of leave is granted, the new permission and its own conditions govern work. Check the decision notice and current status before continuing a job after any change in the case.

Dependants and volunteering

Paragraph 360 applies to the principal asylum applicant. A dependant cannot use the principal applicant's request or grant as their own permission to work. A dependant who has made a separate asylum claim must have their own status and conditions checked. Children under 18 are not granted permission to take employment under this route; education-related work experience or training is a separate matter described in Home Office guidance.

Volunteering is different from taking a job. GOV.UK encourages unpaid volunteering during the claim process and says no application to the Home Office is needed for qualifying volunteering. It describes volunteering as unpaid activity intended to benefit the environment or someone beyond close relatives, often through a charity or public-sector organisation. Calling an arrangement “volunteering” does not make paid work or a worker role exempt. If the arrangement includes wages, regular duties or benefits, check the official guidance and obtain advice before starting.

For the wider claim stages, see our UK asylum claim process guide. If you need help with housing or essential living costs, see the separate UK asylum support and housing guide; applying for support is not a work-permission application.

Frequently asked questions

Official resources

• Working or volunteering in the UK while an asylum case is considered
• Immigration Rules: Part 11B, paragraphs 360–360E
• Home Office caseworker guidance: Permission to work and volunteering for asylum seekers
• Permission to work form PTW1
• After asylum screening: ARC information
• Right to work checks for employers

The relevant Immigration Rules and each person's written permission control. Recheck current official instructions before submitting a form, accepting a job or continuing work after a decision. This guide is general information, not legal advice or an individual status decision.