This page provides information about immigration and asylum-seeking in Worcester to help explain how the system works and answer common questions.
There has been immigration into Worcester throughout its long history. People from other countries and cultures have settled, lived and worked in our city for hundreds of years.
There are 18th Century records of recruitment to the Worcestershire Regiment from the West Indies and America, and wider parish records relating to residents of African and Caribbean descent. During the 1950s, economic migration supported many local employers including Metal Box, Metal Castings, Lea & Perrins and the National Health Service. The contribution of migrants, or their descendants, to Worcester’s economy and culture continues to this day.
In more recent times, Vietnamese boat people have settled in Worcester, hundreds of Ukrainians have been hosted and housed here, and the Government has offered refuge in the UK to Syrians and Afghans who have supported British troops during conflicts. As a university city, Worcester also hosts many international students.
Understanding the different immigration terms
People come to the UK for different reasons and through different immigration routes. Some arrive with permission to live, work or study in the UK, including through Government resettlement schemes. Others seek protection after fleeing persecution or conflict. The following definitions explain the differences.
Migrant
A migrant is a person who moves from one country to another to live, work, study or join family. Migrants usually have permission to enter or remain in the UK through a visa or another lawful immigration route. This includes people arriving through UK Government resettlement or humanitarian schemes, where they are granted permission to come to the UK before or on arrival.
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Person without lawful immigration status (sometimes referred to as an illegal migrant or irregular migrant)
A person without lawful immigration status is someone who does not have permission to enter or remain in the UK. This may include people who entered the UK without permission or whose visa or other permission has expired. Some people in this situation may later claim asylum. Once an asylum claim has been made, they are considered an asylum seeker while their claim is being decided.
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Asylum seeker
An asylum seeker is a person who has asked the UK for protection because they fear persecution or serious harm if they return to their home country. Seeking asylum is a legal right under UK and international law. While the Home Office considers their claim, they are known as an asylum seeker. If they would otherwise be destitute, they may receive accommodation and financial support from the Home Office.
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Refugee
A refugee is a person whose asylum claim has been accepted because the UK Government has recognised that they have a well-founded fear of persecution if they return to their home country. Refugees are granted permission to live in the UK and have the right to work, study and access public services in accordance with UK law.
People arriving through UK Government resettlement schemes are also recognised as refugees or people in need of international protection. Unlike asylum seekers, they are granted permission to come to the UK before they travel and do not need to claim asylum after arrival.
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The journey at a glance
| Route to the UK |
Status on arrival |
Possible outcome |
| Arrives with a work, study, family or other visa |
Migrant |
Remains in the UK in line with their immigration permission. |
| Arrives through a UK Government resettlement or humanitarian scheme |
Refugee (or person granted humanitarian protection) |
Has permission to live, work and integrate in the UK from arrival. |
| Arrives in the UK and claims asylum |
Asylum seeker |
If successful, becomes a refugee or is granted another form of protection. If unsuccessful and no other permission to remain applies, they may no longer have lawful immigration status. |
| Enters or remains in the UK without permission |
Person without lawful immigration status |
May later claim asylum, become an asylum seeker while their claim is considered, or may be required to leave the UK if they have no legal basis to remain. |
Worcester City Council’s role
The City Council does not have any control over the accommodation of asylum seekers in the city. The Home Office works with private contractors that they have procured, to find housing in every part of the country. In Worcestershire, the Home Office procured contractor is Serco.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where do asylum seekers live?
Destitute asylum seekers are allocated housing by the Home Office and have no say in the choice of location. People may be accommodated in hotels or other contingency accommodation provide by the Home Office.
Not all asylum seekers are destitute, with some living with and supported by their family and friends.
Do asylum seekers take hotel rooms from paying guests?
Hotels used for asylum accommodation are contracted by the Home Office. They are not operated by Worcester City Council.
Do asylum seekers get free houses from the Council?
Destitute people seeking asylum are placed in Home Office contingency accomodation while their claims to remain in the UK are being assessed, under the Allocation of Asylum Accommodation Policy. This might be shared housing or a hotel. Local councils do not choose who comes or where they stay. If an asylum seeker is granted refugee status, they can apply for social housing or rent privately, like any other eligible resident.
Do asylum seekers 'jump the queue' for social housing?
Asylum seekers are not entitled to social housing. Refugees who have been granted permission to stay in the UK go through the same housing application process as everyone else. Being granted refugee status does not give that person automatic priority. All applications are assessed based on need. Many single people granted refugee status will not get access to social housing for several years, so most will privately rent a room in a shared house.
Are people being evicted from their homes so landlords can rent houses to asylum-seekers?
Landlords are free to decide who they rent their property to and some have contracted to Serco, the Home Office asylum accommodation provider for Worcestershire. The Council has no say over which tenants a private landlord rents to. However, Serco has confirmed it does not evict existing tenants to make way for people seeking asylum.
How much money do asylum seekers get?
Asylum seekers in hotel accommodation receive £9.95 a week (around £1.42 a day) to cover essentials like toiletries, clothes and phone credit.
Meals are provided by the hotel, typically three times a day. While some dietary requirements (such as halal, vegetarian or vegan options) are usually accommodated, the range of choices is often limited.
Those in family houses or shared houses in the community receive £49.18 a week to cover food, clothing, phone credit and toiletries.
Source
Figures taken from Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK
What other support do asylum seekers get from the Government? Are they given free iPhones?
Asylum seekers can access healthcare and their children can attend school.
Asylum seekers are not given free mobile phones of any kind by the Government.
For many, a phone is an essential possession, helping them stay in contact with family members who are often in different countries. While apps such as WhatsApp can be used for free over wi-fi, they may still need phone credit to contact the Home Office or access certain services.
Some local charities offer to repair broken phones, provide donated second-hand devices and supply donated data sim cards. These charities may also offer items such as donated clothing and footwear.
These forms of support are not provided as part of the Government’s asylum support system but via local donations and community groups.
Why don’t asylum seekers work and pay their own way?
Government rules currently do not allow people seeking asylum to work for the first 12 months while they wait for a decision on whether they will be given leave to stay in the UK. This is Government policy, not their personal choice.
After 12 months they can apply for Permission to Work and any applications submitted on or after 26 March 2026, which are granted, are restricted to jobs on the Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF level 6 or above.
As a result, the vast majority of people seeking asylum are not permitted to work while awaiting a decision on their claim and must rely on the support provided through the asylum system.
Why do we have people sleeping rough on Worcester’s streets while asylum seekers are given housing?
The response to homelessness (including rough sleeping) and the provision of asylum accommodation are different systems governed by different legislation and funded by different parts of the Government. People seeking asylum who would otherwise be destitute may be provided with accommodation by the Home Office while their asylum claim is being considered.
Separately, Worcester City Council has statutory duties to prevent and relieve homelessness, and provide support to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in accordance with homelessness legislation. The circumstances of each person are assessed individually and the support available will depend on their circumstances.
How do we know asylum seekers aren’t pretending to be refugees to get free stuff?
Every asylum claim is assessed by the Home Office; if an asylum application is refused following assessment by the Home Office they will not be given refugee status. Many people seeking asylum are fleeing war, torture or persecution. They want safety, dignity and a chance to rebuild their lives.
Most European countries provide some combination of accommodation, subsistence support, healthcare and education for children to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. However, the level and form of support varies significantly between countries, and there is no single European model. The UK's asylum support system is broadly comparable in principle to those operated by many other European states, although the amount of financial support and the delivery arrangements differ. Some asylum seekers want to come to the UK because of language or family connections.
Do asylum seekers pose any health risks to the community?
Most people seeking asylum receive a health care screening when they register with a GP. Registration is supported by Serco. Any injuries, health conditions, and missing vaccinations etc. would then be identified and treated.
Find out more about health challenges for refugees and asylum seekers.
Does the crime rate increase when asylum seekers live locally?
Research reviewed by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford found no statistically significant relationship between increases in the local asylum seeker population and violent crime rates in England and Wales. While one study identified a small association with property crime, it found no corresponding increase in violent crime.
Worcester remains a welcoming place for everyone - a statement from the Council Leaders
