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UK Visas and Immigration Introduces Single Protection Interview Process for Caseworkers

🇬🇧 United KingdomAsylum1 recorded versionLast change 28 Sept 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The new Single Protection Interview brings together the functions of the initial screening process and substantive examination into one interview for qualifying cases. Caseworkers are expected to consider whether the claim is appropriate for an SPI rather than automatically applying the process to every asylum claimant. The guidance identifies several circumstances that can make a claim suitable. These include cases where the available information indicates that the claim appears clearly unfounded, a fuller examination is unlikely to be necessary and credibility testing is unlikely to be required. The claimant must also be fit to participate in the interview, and caseworkers must consider whether safeguarding or vulnerability issues make the process unsuitable. The guidance identifies nationals of EU member states, Switzerland, EEA states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United States among the groups whose claims may be considered for the process. Nationality alone does not make someone eligible for an SPI. The other suitability requirements must also be satisfied. During the SPI, the claimant's protection claim is examined in sufficient detail for the Home Office to determine whether a decision can be made. Where the interview provides the necessary information and no further examination is required, the case can proceed towards a decision without a separate substantive interview. Where the case raises issues that cannot appropriately be dealt with through the SPI, the claimant must instead continue through the standard asylum process. The guidance also preserves procedural safeguards. Claimants must be able to use an interpreter where necessary and receive reasonable adjustments where appropriate. They retain the opportunity to provide evidence and have legal representation. The interview is recorded through the applicable Home Office process and the claimant is provided with the relevant record. Before a decision is made, the claimant must generally have at least five full working days to make further representations, unless they request an earlier decision. The process does not apply to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or people subject to an active age dispute that may result in them being treated as an unaccompanied child. Children who are part of family groups may potentially be considered where the relevant conditions are met, but their individual circumstances and any protection concerns must still be considered.

Overview

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has implemented a new process for handling protection claims, effective from 28 September 2026. New caseworker guidance details the use of a single protection interview to identify and process claims that may be suitable for refusal. This streamlined approach replaces the previous system of separate screening and substantive interviews, impacting how protection claims are assessed by immigration staff.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Asylum and protection claimants whose cases meet the Home Office's criteria for a Single Protection Interview
  • Nationals of EU member states, Switzerland, EEA states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United States whose claims also satisfy the other SPI suitability requirements
  • Home Office caseworkers responsible for identifying suitable cases and conducting the combined interview
  • Legal representatives and other advisers supporting claimants whose cases are considered for the SPI
  • Claimants who may otherwise have been required to attend separate screening and substantive asylum interviews

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before the new Single Protection Interview (SPI) guidance came in, the standard process for asylum involved separate stages for screening and a more detailed examination. Screening was used to gather basic information about the person making the claim, known as the claimant, and their situation. The substantive asylum interview then gave the claimant a chance to explain their protection claim in much more detail. The new guidance doesn't say that the old process has been completely removed for all protection claims. Instead, it creates another way to handle cases that meet specific conditions to be suitable for the SPI. This means the standard process is still relevant if a case doesn't meet the SPI criteria, or if information that comes up during the SPI suggests a more thorough examination is needed.

After

The new Single Protection Interview brings together the functions of the initial screening process and substantive examination into one interview for qualifying cases. Caseworkers are expected to consider whether the claim is appropriate for an SPI rather than automatically applying the process to every asylum claimant. The guidance identifies several circumstances that can make a claim suitable. These include cases where the available information indicates that the claim appears clearly unfounded, a fuller examination is unlikely to be necessary and credibility testing is unlikely to be required. The claimant must also be fit to participate in the interview, and caseworkers must consider whether safeguarding or vulnerability issues make the process unsuitable. The guidance identifies nationals of EU member states, Switzerland, EEA states, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and the United States among the groups whose claims may be considered for the process. Nationality alone does not make someone eligible for an SPI. The other suitability requirements must also be satisfied. During the SPI, the claimant's protection claim is examined in sufficient detail for the Home Office to determine whether a decision can be made. Where the interview provides the necessary information and no further examination is required, the case can proceed towards a decision without a separate substantive interview. Where the case raises issues that cannot appropriately be dealt with through the SPI, the claimant must instead continue through the standard asylum process. The guidance also preserves procedural safeguards. Claimants must be able to use an interpreter where necessary and receive reasonable adjustments where appropriate. They retain the opportunity to provide evidence and have legal representation. The interview is recorded through the applicable Home Office process and the claimant is provided with the relevant record. Before a decision is made, the claimant must generally have at least five full working days to make further representations, unless they request an earlier decision. The process does not apply to unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or people subject to an active age dispute that may result in them being treated as an unaccompanied child. Children who are part of family groups may potentially be considered where the relevant conditions are met, but their individual circumstances and any protection concerns must still be considered.

This change significantly alters the interview process for individuals seeking protection in the UK whose claims may be refused. For these applicants, the shift from two distinct interviews (screening and substantive) to a single, combined interview means a more condensed assessment period. Caseworkers will now need to identify claims suitable for refusal earlier in the process and conduct a comprehensive interview that covers aspects previously addressed in separate stages. This could lead to quicker decisions for these specific types of claims, potentially reducing the overall time spent in the asylum system for some individuals, while also demanding greater efficiency and thoroughness from caseworkers during the single interview.

Explained simply

Imagine you used to have two separate chats to explain why you needed help from the government. Now, you only get one longer chat where you have to say everything. This new rule tells the people asking the questions how to decide if they can say 'no' to your request based on that single conversation.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 28 Sept 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    UK Visas and Immigration Introduces Single Protection Interview Process for Caseworkers

    From 28 September 2026, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) caseworkers will start using new instructions to process protection claims. These instructions bring in a single protection interview for claims that seem likely to be refused. This replaces the old system of separate screening and substantive interviews. This new, more efficient process aims to identify and manage these types of claims within the UK's immigration system.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    28 Sept 2026

    UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has implemented a new process for handling protection claims, effective from 28 September 2026. New caseworker guidance details the use of a single protection interview to identify and process claims that may be suitable for refusal. This streamlined approach replaces the previous system of separate screening and substantive interviews, impacting how protection clai

  2. Takes effect

    28 Sept 2026

    Protection claims deemed suitable for refusal will be identified and processed following a single protection interview, which will replace the separate screening and substantive interviews.

Other routes in this country

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