Changes to the asylum interview process: what you need to know

Changes to the asylum interview process: what you need to know

As of Monday, 3rd August 2026, new Government rules have come into force that change how some asylum claims may be decided.

At Freedom from Torture, we believe a fair asylum system must give people a genuine opportunity to explain why they need protection and to provide evidence in support of their claim. This is especially important for survivors of torture, whose traumatic experiences can be extremely difficult to disclose.

While the Government says these changes are intended to speed up the asylum process, we are concerned that they could reduce important safeguards designed to help ensure decisions are fair and accurate.

What has changed?

Until now, most people claiming asylum have gone through several stages of the asylum process:

• A screening interview. 
• A later, full asylum interview where they explain why they need protection. 
• An opportunity to correct mistakes in their interview record and submit further evidence, including expert evidence such as medico-legal reports documenting torture. 

Under the new rules, more people may no longer receive that second interview.

Instead, the Home Office may decide some claims after a single "merged" interview, meaning applicants may have fewer opportunities to:

• clarify their account 
• correct errors 
• provide additional information 
• submit supporting evidence. 

The Government has said the aim is to make the asylum system more efficient by allowing some claims to be decided more quickly.

However, at the time these changes came into force, detailed guidance explaining how the new rules will be applied had not yet been published.

Why are we concerned?

Speed should never come at the expense of fairness.

Asylum decisions can determine whether someone is returned to persecution, imprisonment or torture. These decisions should be based on the fullest possible understanding of each person's circumstances.

Reducing opportunities for people to explain their experiences or submit evidence increases the risk that important information may never be heard.

Getting asylum decisions right the first time should be the priority.

Unsafe refusals not only place individuals at risk but can also lead to appeals, delays and additional pressure on the asylum system.

Trauma affects how people tell their story

Many survivors of torture do not disclose everything that has happened to them during an initial interview.

Trauma can affect memory, trust and a person's ability to speak about painful experiences. Feelings such as fear, shame and anxiety may mean someone is unable to explain their full story immediately.

This does not mean their account is untrue.

Clinical evidence shows that trauma can profoundly affect how and when people disclose their experiences. A fair asylum process should recognise these realities.

Why safeguards matter

Many people seeking asylum struggle to access legal advice, and many do not have legal representation during their initial screening interview.

People often need time, specialist support and expert advice to understand their experiences and explain how they relate to their asylum claim.

Some survivors also require independent medical evidence documenting torture.

At Freedom from Torture, our clinicians prepare independent medico-legal reports that provide expert evidence of torture and help ensure survivors' experiences are properly considered during the asylum process.

Reducing opportunities to submit further information or evidence risks preventing people from receiving the protection they need.

Every asylum claim should be considered individually

The Home Office may apply these new rules to some claims from countries it considers to be "safe".

However, no country is safe for everyone.

People may face persecution because of their:

• sexuality  
• gender identity 
• religion  
• political beliefs 
• ethnicity  
• other personal characteristics. 

Every asylum claim should therefore be assessed on its own individual facts and evidence.

Looking ahead

We do not yet know exactly how these new rules will operate in practice.

What we do know is that an effective asylum system must give people a genuine opportunity to explain why they need protection.

Weakening those safeguards increases the risk that people could be returned to serious harm, including torture.

Freedom from Torture will continue to monitor these changes and campaign for an asylum system that is fair, evidence-based and centred on people's need for protection.