Asylum Helplines

Get help by phone if you are an asylum applicant or refugee and you need advice about the asylum process or adapting to life in the UK.

Who can use the helplines 

You can use the helplines if: 

  • you are an asylum seeker and you have just arrived in the UK  
  • you have just received the decision on your asylum application 
  • you have been successful in your asylum application and are building a new life in the UK 

What the helplines are for  

The asylum helplines can help with:

  • housing problems 
  • dealing with agencies, eg social services 
  • finding English language classes 
  • questions about asylum support 
  • getting legal representation 
  • finding schools 
  • building a life in the UK if you are given permission to stay here 
  • returning home 

They may also be able to help if you are: 

  • threatened or harmed by someone because of your race 
  • threatened or harmed by a member of your family 
  • the victim of a crime 
  • a witness to a crime 

Charities run the helplines. They do not make decisions on asylum applications. 

Who to call 

Call Asylum Help UK if you are an adult asylum seeker or the dependant of an adult asylum seeker. 

Asylum Help UK: Telephone: 0808 801 0503, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm, (24-hour service for emergencies).

Call Asylum Support Application UK if you are an asylum seeker and can not support yourself financially and want to apply for asylum support.

Asylum Support Application UK: Telephone: 0808 801 0503, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm, (24-hour service for emergencies).

Call Children’s Panel if you are a child in the UK on your own and applying for asylum. 

Children’s Panel (England only): Telephone: 020 7346 1134, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm, (limited service at other times).