Organisations helping migrants in the United Kingdom: asylum, legal advice, health, who to contact

Information checked on 2 November 2026.

In an emergency in the United Kingdom: call 999 if a life is in danger, and 111 (NHS) for quick medical advice. Are you claiming asylum with no housing or money? Migrant Help's free line (0808 8010 503) handles applications for asylum support. For free legal advice on your immigration status, JCWI's free line (0800 160 1004) or your local Citizens Advice are good first calls.

There are many organisations helping migrants in the United Kingdom, but one rule applies to all of them: in the UK, only a registered adviser is allowed to give you immigration advice. Before you hand your case to anyone, check them (the method is below). This article is part of our guide to organisations helping migrants in Europe and the Americas.

Organisations helping migrants in the United Kingdom, in one table

Compatri is not linked to any of these organisations: we list them because they are recognised references in the country.

Immigration status: where to find free legal advice

JCWI (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants) has worked for migrants since 1967. It gives specialist advice and representation in every area of immigration and asylum law, including court challenges. Its Adviceline is free and confidential for people in the UK: 0800 160 1004. JCWI is itself regulated by the IAA.

Citizens Advice is the first port of call for many people in Britain with any administrative problem. For immigration, your local office can help if it has a specialist immigration adviser; if not, it refers you to another organisation or a solicitor. According to Citizens Advice, its help is always free and all its advisers are registered with the IAA. It covers the EU Settlement Scheme, applications to stay, naturalisation and the right to work, among other things.

Praxis describes itself as one of London's largest providers of free immigration advice, for migrants and refugees in crisis. It also offers "A Migrant's Guide", a free web app listing trusted services.

Right to Remain does not take on individual cases: it publishes the Toolkit, a free guide to the whole immigration and asylum system, designed both for the person concerned and for those supporting them. It is good reading before an appointment with an adviser.

Legal aid

Citizens Advice says legal aid can cover a lawyer's fees in immigration matters for a person on a low income who is applying for asylum, experiencing domestic abuse or a victim of trafficking, and, under conditions, for a child separated from their parents. If you are eligible, choose an adviser with legal aid funding: otherwise fees can run to thousands of pounds.

Asylum: who does what

Migrant Help answers the free asylum helpline: 0808 8010 503. The UK government website names it as the contact for asylum support, if that support is refused or for questions about an appeal. Migrant Help also supports victims of modern slavery and trafficking.

Refugee Council supports people seeking asylum and refugees in England. Important: the charity itself states that it does not give legal or immigration advice. It signposts you to the right services and refers you to Migrant Help for asylum support. In Scotland and Wales, the Scottish Refugee Council and the Welsh Refugee Council play this role.

Refugee Action helps people seeking asylum and refugees live with dignity and rebuild their lives: advice for people seeking asylum, employability support. It also campaigns, including for the right to work for people seeking asylum.

Asylum Aid provides legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum: children, trafficking survivors, stateless people. It has worked with the Helen Bamber Foundation since 2020.

Emergencies, family and health

British Red Cross offers refugees and people seeking asylum emergency help, one-to-one casework, one-off support and signposting. It also advises refugees who want to bring their family over and helps find a relative missing abroad because of conflict or disaster. Each area has its own service: find yours on the local services page.

Doctors of the World UK runs a free line (0808 164 7686) open to anyone living in the UK, whatever their immigration status. Its caseworkers help you register with a GP, access maternity care, apply for the HC1 form for help with health costs and understand your NHS rights. Interpreters are available. It is not an emergency medical service: for that, call 999 or 111. Its London walk-in clinic has closed, and help is now given by phone.

How to check an immigration adviser

In the United Kingdom, the law restricts immigration advice to two groups:

• advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), the public body that replaced the former OISC. The IAA is a public body sponsored by the Home Office;
• members of a regulated profession, in particular solicitors.

To check:

Beware of scams

• A genuine organisation never promises you a visa or a right to stay. Nobody can guarantee a Home Office decision. The IAA accepts complaints precisely about advisers who "claim you'll be successful".
• Before you pay, ask in writing what will be done, how much it costs and how you will pay, and insist on a signed and dated receipt.
• An unregistered adviser will not refund you: the UK government states that you cannot get your money back if an adviser is not regulated.
• Doctors of the World reminds you that its help is free for everyone and asks you to report anyone who made you pay to access it.
• You can report someone giving advice without being regulated to the IAA, and get help to complain from the Refugee Council in England or its Scottish and Welsh counterparts.

Finding your compatriots in the United Kingdom

An organisation handles a case; a community makes sure you don't face it alone. On Compatri, the United Kingdom page brings together cities and meetups, and diaspora pages lead to communities, for example Nigerians in the United Kingdom or Ghanaians in the United Kingdom. Join your country's community in your city from the communities page: people who arrived before you know which office answers, which adviser is genuine, where to sleep the first night. Read also how mutual aid between compatriots works and how to find your compatriots in a new city. The directory of associations also lists diaspora associations.

Arriving in Ireland rather than Great Britain? See organisations helping migrants in Ireland. Compatri gives no legal advice: for your situation, contact a registered adviser or one of the organisations listed here.

Sources

• GOV.UK: find an immigration adviser (IAA, solicitors, levels)
• GOV.UK: complain about an immigration adviser
• GOV.UK: Immigration Advice Authority
• GOV.UK: asylum support
• NHS: when to use 111
• Citizens Advice: get specialist immigration advice
• JCWI: how we can help
• Migrant Help
• Refugee Action
• British Red Cross: help as a refugee
• British Red Cross: local refugee services
• Doctors of the World UK: Adviceline
• Praxis
• Asylum Aid
• Right to Remain