How to Apply for an Asylum Travel Document in the UK

If you’ve been granted asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK and you’re unable to use a passport from your home country, the Home Office allows you to apply for a UK travel document instead. You must apply from inside the UK, submit identity documents and photographs, pay the required fee, and wait for the Home Office to issue a decision, which in most cases takes several weeks.

Although the Home Office sets out the application process, many people run into problems due to minor errors or misunderstandings about which document they should apply for. This guide breaks the process down in plain terms, explains who qualifies, what type of travel document is required, how to apply, how long it usually takes, and the common issues that can cause delays or refusals.

What Is an Asylum Travel Document in the UK

An asylum travel document is a document issued by the Home Office to people living in the UK who are not able to travel on a passport from their own country. This is often the case for refugees and people with humanitarian protection, where contacting their home authorities is not safe or realistic.

The document works as a replacement for a passport and allows travel abroad and return to the UK, but it is not the same as holding a British passport. The rules attached to it depend on your immigration status, and the type of document issued must match that status. Applying for the wrong document is a common reason applications are refused, and the fee is not refunded if that happens.

Types of Asylum Travel Documents

Refugee Travel Document

A Refugee Travel Document is issued to people who have been granted refugee status in the UK. It is issued under the 1951 Refugee Convention and is usually blue.

This document allows travel to most countries, but it must not be used to travel to the country you fled from. Doing so can place your refugee status at risk.

Certificate of Travel

A Certificate of Travel is issued to people with humanitarian protection or other forms of UK leave who cannot obtain a passport from their home country. It is usually black in colour.

Not all countries accept a Certificate of Travel, and visa requirements are often stricter, which is why it is important to check entry rules before making any travel plans.

Who Can Apply for an Asylum Travel Document

You can apply for an asylum travel document if you are physically inside the UK at the time of application, you have been granted asylum or humanitarian protection, or you have another qualifying form of leave. You cannot access a valid passport from your country of nationality.

You must also have at least six months of valid permission to stay remaining unless you hold indefinite leave to remain.

Children can apply as well, but each child must have their own application and written consent from a parent or legal guardian.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for an Asylum Travel Document in the UK

Step 1: Confirm the Correct Travel Document

Check your Home Office decision letter or biometric residence permit to confirm your immigration status. Refugees must apply for a Refugee Travel Document. People with humanitarian protection usually apply for a Certificate of Travel.

Applying for the wrong document type is one of the most common reasons for refusal.

Step 2: Gather the Required Documents

You will generally need your current or expired passport if you have one, your Home Office decision letter, proof of identity, and two passport-style photographs. An approved professional must countersign one photograph.

Your biometric residence permit must not be sent unless the Home Office asks explicitly for it.

Step 3: Complete the Application

Most applicants apply using the Home Office online form. After you submit it, you send your original supporting documents by post. If you do not feel confident applying online or you do not have internet access, you can get help completing the online form

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

The application fee depends on the type of travel document and the applicant’s age. Fees are paid during the application process and are not refunded if the application is refused.

Step 5: Send Supporting Documents

After applying, you must send the requested original documents to the Home Office using a secure tracked postal service. Only the documents asked explicitly for should be sent.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Most asylum travel document applications take up to 14 weeks. You should not book travel until you receive the document.

Fees and Processing Times

Travel Document Type	Adult Fee	Child Fee	Processing Time
Refugee Travel Document	£94.50	£61.50	Up to 14 weeks
Certificate of Travel	£300	£151	Up to 14 weeks

Fees can change, so it is essential to check the latest Home Office guidance before applying.

Common Reasons for Refusal or Delay

Applications are often refused because the wrong document type was selected, there was not enough leave remaining, photographs were incorrect, signatures were missing, or unnecessary documents were submitted.

Another common mistake is booking travel before the travel document is issued. Airlines will not accept a biometric residence permit as a travel document.

Travelling with an Asylum Travel Document

An asylum travel document does not guarantee entry into another country. Many countries require visas, and some do not accept Certificates of Travel at all.

Refugees must never use their travel document to visit the country they fled from. This can have serious consequences for their immigration status in the UK.

What to Do If Your Asylum Travel Document Is Lost or Stolen

If your travel document is lost or stolen, you must report it to the Home Office immediately. If it was stolen, you must also report it to the police and provide a crime reference number.

A replacement travel document requires a new application and a new fee. You must be in the UK to apply for a replacement.

Legal Support for Asylum Travel Document Applications (Rewritten)

Applying for an asylum travel document often appears straightforward, but in practice, many applications fail because of small technical errors or misunderstandings about Home Office rules. Issues such as selecting the wrong type of travel document, submitting incomplete evidence, or applying too close to the expiry of immigration permission regularly result in refusals or long delays.

Legal support helps reduce these risks by ensuring the application is based on the correct immigration status, supported by appropriate evidence, and submitted in line with current Home Office requirements. This is particularly important for family applications, applications involving children, urgent travel requests, and cases where a previous travel document application has been refused.

MSD Solicitors provide immigration and asylum legal services to refugees and individuals with humanitarian protection. They assist clients through the travel document application process by reviewing eligibility, preparing applications correctly, and addressing complications that can arise during Home Office decision-making. Their support is especially valuable where timing is critical or where mistakes could affect future immigration status.

Final Summary

While applying for an asylum travel document in the UK, documentation and Home Office rules must be given the most attention. When the documentation is done correctly and all rules are followed, the risks to your immigration status are minimised. For anyone unsure about their eligibility or facing complex circumstances, professional legal guidance can make the process smoother and more secure

FAQs

Q1: How long does it take to get an asylum travel document in the UK?

Most applications take up to 14 weeks from submission to decision.

Q2: Can refugees travel to their home country with a UK travel document?

No. Refugees must not travel to the country from which they fled.

Q3: Can children apply for an asylum travel document?

Yes. Each child must have a separate application and parental consent.

Q4: Do all countries accept a Certificate of Travel?

No. Some countries do not accept it, and visa rules vary.

Q5: What happens if my application is refused?

The fee is not refunded. You may request one reconsideration or apply again.

Q6: Can I apply from outside the UK?

No, you must be in the UK when you apply.