Asylum Interviews in the UK: Audit Findings and Recommendations
Legal publications
Asylum Interviews in the UK: Audit Findings and Recommendations
9 March 2026
This report presents the findings of UNHCR’s audit of asylum interviews in the UK, based on interview observations, file audits and discussions with Home Office staff undertaken in late 2024 and early 2025.
The report identifies opportunities to strengthen interviewing practice, from improving interview techniques and credibility assessment to ensuring the effective use of interpreters and enhancing the tools available to decision-makers. UNHCR is grateful to the Home Office for its constructive engagement throughout the review. Seven of the ten recommendations have been accepted in full and the remaining three partially accepted, and a number of positive changes have already been introduced in response to the findings.
UNHCR looks forward to continued collaboration with the Home Office to support the implementation of these recommendations and to help ensure that asylum interviews consistently meet best-practice standards.
The report identifies opportunities to strengthen interviewing practice, from improving interview techniques and credibility assessment to ensuring the effective use of interpreters and enhancing the tools available to decision-makers. UNHCR is grateful to the Home Office for its constructive engagement throughout the review. Seven of the ten recommendations have been accepted in full and the remaining three partially accepted, and a number of positive changes have already been introduced in response to the findings.
UNHCR looks forward to continued collaboration with the Home Office to support the implementation of these recommendations and to help ensure that asylum interviews consistently meet best-practice standards.
