If you wish to stay in the UK as someone with refugee status, then you will need to make a claim for asylum. The right to claim asylum was established under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

You can be eligible to claim asylum in the UK if you have left your home country and cannot return due to fear of persecution. This fear of persecution can be due to your race, religion, nationality, political opinion or anything else that puts you at risk because of the social, cultural, religious or political situation in your country, for example, your gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

You can only apply for asylum once you have arrived in the UK and you should apply as soon as possible, waiting before making your asylum claim will mean that your asylum application will have a higher chance of rejection.

If you are successfully granted asylum by the Home Office, you will be given refugee status and leave to remain in the UK for 5 years. After this time, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.