Asylum Seekers and Refugees

What is the difference between Refugees and Asylum Seekers?

People move to the UK for different reasons. Here is what the different words mean:

1. Asylum Seeker

An asylum seeker is a person who had to leave their home country to be safe.
They come to the UK and ask the government for protection.
They have a legal right to stay in the UK while the government decides on their application.
Waiting for a decision can take a long time.

2. Refugee

A refugee is an asylum seeker whose application has been accepted by the UK government.
They have proven that it is too dangerous for them to go back home.
They have permission to live, work, and stay in the UK long-term or permanently.

3. Refused Asylum Seeker

This is a person whose asylum request was not accepted by the government.
The government decided they did not prove it was dangerous to go back home.
They must leave the UK, unless they submit an appeal against the decision.

4. Migrant

A migrant is someone who chooses to move to another country.
They usually move to get a job, study at a university, or live with family.
They may stay temporarily or permanently.

+ Asylum seekers

A person seeking asylum has often have to flee their home to avoid execution. Arrives in another country, whichever way they can makes themselves known to the authorities, submits an asylum application and has a legal right to stay in the country while waiting for a decision, which may often take some time.

+ Refugees

A refugee:

Has had their claim for asylum accepted by the government
Has proven that they’d be at risk if returned to their home country
Has permission to stay in the UK either long term or indefinitely.

+ Refused asylum seekers

A person who has been refused asylum:

Hasn’t been able to prove that they’d be at risk if returned to their home country
Has been denied asylum by the authorities.

Must now leave the country – unless they want to appeal the decision.

+ Migrants

A migrant:

Has moved to another country, for example, to work, study or join family members
May be living there temporarily or permanently depending on their situation.