Written questions

Asylum: Employment

2026-05-28 · Home Office · 4806 · Official question

Neil Duncan-Jordan

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing those awaiting their asylum applications to be concluded to take paid employment.

Answer

Asylum seekers are eligible to apply for permission to work in the UK if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those permitted to work are restricted by the Home Office to apply for jobs on the Skilled Work...