Getting permission to work if you are seeking asylum
If you are seeking asylum in the UK, you may be able to apply for permission to work if you have been waiting more than 12 months for an initial decision on your asylum claim.
Guidance
This applies where the delay in your case was not caused by you, for example by missing appointments, not providing information requested by the Home Office, or not complying with the asylum process.
Permission to work is not given automatically. You must make a request to the Home Office asking for permission.
If permission is granted, you will usually only be allowed to work in jobs on the government’s Immigration Salary List (previously called the Shortage Occupation List), which means the work must be in certain approved roles.
Applying for permission to work can be important. It can help you support yourself, reduce financial hardship, and give you more independence while your asylum claim is being considered.
The Home Office guidance explains who can apply, how to make the request, and how decisions are made.
You can read the full guidance here
Here is the application form. But make sure you read the guidance first.
Last updated 27 April 2026