An immigration appeal enables you to legally challenge a decision of the Home Office that you believe is wrong or unfair. This could involve refusal to give a visa, revocation of one's immigration status, or other matters related to immigration rights. A UK immigration appeal can be lodged with the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). This is a specialist court that deals with specific types of immigration and asylum applications. This tribunal acts independently and assesses whether or not the Home Office indeed made the correct decision under the law.
Normally, appeals are framed in terms of asylum, human rights protection claims, or under decisions of the EU Settlement Scheme. However, not all decisions of the Home Office come with the right to appeal. These rights are usually given in cases where such an appeal affects fundamental rights regarding one's entitlement in matters such as family life or protection from harm.
If your case is eligible, appealing gives you a fair chance to present your case and seek a lawful and just outcome.
Not every refusal carries a right of appeal, but only those affecting fundamental rights or status may go to appeal. The broad categorisation of appeals under British immigration law as of July 2025 is as follows:
You may appeal if that the Home Office has refused or subsequently revoked asylum or humanitarian protection.
Under the Immigration Rules (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights), all refusals on grounds of private and family life, whether for an initial grant or for an extension of leave, carry appeal rights.
The following kinds of decisions carry an appeal right:
If the cancellation of your Indefinite Leave to Remain granted on or after 31 January 2020 is being appealed, or if your refugee status or humanitarian protection was revoked, then it can be appealed at the First-tier Tribunal.
Decisions to deprive you of British citizenship trigger a right of appeal under section 40A of the British Nationality Act 1981 (heard by the First‑tier Tribunal or SIAC on national security grounds).
Always read your decision notice carefully; it will tell you if you have a right of appeal-or a right of only administrative review. If you are in doubt, seek specialist advice at the first opportunity.
First, check the section "right to appeal" in your refusal letter and note down the deadline: 14 days after the date of the notice if you are in the UK or 28 days if you are abroad. If you miss that, you can no longer appeal the decision.
Then visit GOV.UK and access the HMCTS online service, or send form IAFT 5 for immigration, IAFT 6 for asylum, or IAFT 7 if you are applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, with your refusal notice, completed form, and proof of payment or fee waiver.
Then it is necessary to assemble your decision letter, passport pages, witness statements, and any medical or expert reports. Number and label those documents so that the tribunal can clearly follow your case.
Make up your mind whether you want a paper review or an oral hearing by phone, video link, or in person. When you decide for an oral hearing, you should rehearse your main points and consider the questions a judge could ask you.
In about four weeks from the hearing, the First-tier Tribunal will send its written judgment. By post or by email, it will come. Therefore, if your appeal is accepted, the Home Office must reinstate your leave immediately.
If your appeal is allowed, you may simply continue from where you left off. You have three months to apply for judicial review if your UK visa refusal appeal is denied, or you can select another option to stay in the UK, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
Here’s what you’ll pay and how you might cover costs:
Prepare for a six-to-twelve-month window and check your case status on-line to keep up with Home Office updates.
Start reading every paragraph of your refusal notice. Look for the Below:
Reason stated: Whether the bases of the ruling are human rights, family life, or points-based.
Right of Appeal: Verify that the letter accords you rights of appeal and gives information on your deadline (14 days in the UK; 28 days overseas).
Important Dates: Note the date on the letter and the date you received it-these are the two important ones for your UK immigration appeal window.
Decision Summary: Point out exactly what legal errors or missing evidence on which the Home Office relied.
When your visa application or leave is refused, you have three main options:
This is the avenue when the Home Office has made an obvious procedural error, such as incorrectly stating your dates or fees. You have two weeks in the UK and four if you are overseas to call for a free review, and the Home Office has to rectify any glaring error without the need for a hearing.
Where the refusal letter affords appeal rights, an independent judge reviews the case on its merits for a second time. You provide evidence and arguments on paper or at a hearing, and the tribunal issues a binding decision.
This should only be held for serious legal or procedural errors after one has exhausted all other rights of appeal. This involves an application to the High Court within three months seeking a declaration that the Home Office did something unlawful or something so unfair that it must be declared invalid, rather than simply contesting it on factual grounds.
Choose whatever UK visa refusal appeal submission method works for you, each having its own procedures and timelines.
Log on to the HMCTS Appeals service, upload your documents, and fill in forms IAFT-5, IAFT-6, or IAFT-7. You will receive an instant confirmation and there is no hassle of posting it.
Send appeal pack using Royal Mail Special Delivery, with the same forms and your refusal letter. Allow a few days for delivery and keep the tracking number.
Use email filing for urgent human rights claims only. Check for your local tribunal's address, attach PDF copies of all documents, and ask for an acknowledgment receipt.
Should you need assistance or feel emotionally drained, kindly reach out to us for further information or tailored advice—our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Once the tribunal reaches its decision, you’ll fall into one of three categories:
Immigration appeals can be complex and emotionally draining. Having a qualified solicitor by your side means more than paperwork; it means strategy, clarity, and someone who knows how to present your case in the strongest possible way. From identifying errors in the refusal letter to representing you in front of the tribunal, expert legal support often makes the difference between success and another setback.
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