Information booklet for asylum applications
gov.uk change note: Added a section on 'understanding foreign state threats'.
Headline
The Home Office added a new section on "understanding foreign state threats" to the asylum information booklet, warning asylum seekers about foreign government recruitment attempts and explaining relevant offences under the National Security Act 2023.
Changes in detail
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Contents page — Formatting changes to bullet points: "where to claim asylum where you" and "can find help and advice claiming" → "where to claim asylum" and "where you can find help and advice" and "claiming as a child" (restructured as separate bullet points).
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Page 468, registration interview section — Removed full stop from end of sentence about children's welfare interviews: "Children do not have a registration interview, but where required they will have a welfare interview." → "Children do not have a registration interview, but where required they will have a welfare interview"
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New section: "Understanding foreign state threats" — Added entirely new section warning that foreign governments may ask asylum seekers to help with activities threatening UK national security, including requests for information about people/organisations in the UK, help with spying, property damage, harm to individuals, influencing UK politics, or secret/dishonest support. States they may offer money, gifts or benefits, and instructs readers to report such approaches by calling 999 for immediate crimes/danger or 101 for non-emergency crimes.
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New section: "National Security Act" — Added explanation of National Security Act 2023 as law protecting UK from foreign state threats, listing specific criminal offences including: working for/supporting foreign intelligence services in UK activities; accepting material benefits from foreign intelligence services; interfering with UK political processes on behalf of foreign states; obtaining/sharing protected information to benefit foreign states in ways harmful to UK safety/interests. Advises contacting police on 101 if unsure or worried.
Practical implications
Immigration practitioners should be aware that asylum seekers are now being explicitly warned about foreign state recruitment attempts and related criminal liability. This may be relevant when advising clients who report being approached by foreign governments, particularly those from countries with active intelligence operations. Practitioners should consider whether clients have been subject to such approaches and advise on reporting obligations. The guidance may also be relevant for clients concerned about potential National Security Act prosecutions.
Administrative changes
Minor formatting changes to contents page bullet points and removal of one full stop from a sentence about children's interviews.
Diff
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ -- where to claim asylum where you - -- can find help and advice claiming - -- as a child +- where to claim asylum + +- where you can find help and advice + +- claiming as a child - what to expect after claiming asylum @@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ - Questions relating to any criminal offences and national security -- Children do not have a registration interview, but where required they will have a welfare interview. +- Children do not have a registration interview, but where required they will have a welfare interview @@ -1504,6 +1504,90 @@ +## Understanding foreign state threats + + + +Some foreign governments may ask you to help them with activities that threaten UK national security. This is not common, but it is important to know what to do if that happens. + + + +These governments may ask for: + + + +- + + +information about people, organisations, or how things work in the UK + + +- + + +help with spying, causing damage to property, causing harm to individuals or influencing UK politics + + +- + + +support in ways that are secret or dishonest + + + + + +They may offer money, gifts, or other benefits. If this happens to you, you must report it. + + + +Call 999 if you are reporting a crime that is happening now or if someone is in immediate danger. + + + +If the crime is not an emergency, call 101 or contact your local police. + + + +## National Security Act + + + +The National Security Act 2023 is a law that protects the UK from threats from foreign states through various criminal offences. For example, you are breaking the law if you: + + + +- + + +work for, or support the work of, a foreign intelligence service in carrying out activities in the UK + + +- + + +accept a material benefit, for example money or gifts, from a foreign intelligence service + + +- + + +interfere with another person’s participation in UK political processes, or their political decision-making, on behalf of a foreign state + + +- + + +obtain or share protected information with the intention of benefiting a foreign state, for a purpose you know is harmful to the UK’s safety or interests + + + + + +If you are not sure or are worried, you should call 101 or contact your local police who can provide advice and help. + + + ## Smoking ban