Employment

Asylum seekers

People seeking asylum generally do not have the right to work. However, there are two main groups of asylum seekers who can have permission to work:

• Those who have been awaiting more than 12 months for an initial decision on their asylum claim or on further submissions
• Those who have Section 3C leave

Awaiting a decision

Those awaiting a decision for more than 12 months are not automatically granted permission to work. They can apply for permission to work by writing to the Home Office with any evidence of how they meet the requirements. Home Office guidance on permission to work for asylum seekers provides further information on this. If granted, permission to work is limited to roles listed on the Immigration Salary List.

Section 3C leave

People seeking asylum who have been in the UK on a valid visa and have claimed asylum before the expiry of that visa have section 3C leave, and therefore retain their right to work, if this was a condition of their original leave. Their right to work is restricted to roles permitted in their original visa.

Page updated 11 June 2025