Original document : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessing-age-instruction

Change description : 2025-03-28 11:38:00: Updated to take into account amendments to the policy and processes in respect of those who have had a ‘significantly over 18’ decision and are subject to prosecution for immigration offences. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-11-08 15:57:50.117429875 +00:00..2025-03-28 11:38:47.037425689 +00:00

Guidance

Assessing age for asylum applicants: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on assessing the age of an applicant when they claim to be a child.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
17 June 2011
Last updated
828 NovemberMarch 20242025 — See all updates

Documents

Assessing age (accessible)

HTML

Assessing age

PDF, 740513 KB, 8788 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff make decisions when an asylum applicant claims to be a child with little or no evidence.

The age assessment joint working guidance (2015) has replaced the joint working protocol (2005) contained in this asylum instruction. This provides guidance on joint working and information sharing between the Home Office and local authorities.

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  1. over 18' decision and are subject to prosecution for immigration offences.

  2. Guidance amended to include the following amendments: how electronic copies of identity documents should be considered; how a ‘significantly over 18’ initial age decision should be interpreted and implemented in different circumstances; clarifying the safeguards and the process of assessing age in adult detention.

  4. Guidance added on the communication of age dispute related information in cases where age-disputed persons are subject to criminal investigation and prosecution for immigration related crimes.

  6. Updated the page text as the guidance is no longer under review.

  8. Guidance amended to take into account the commencement of certain provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, including the introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) on 31 March 2023.

  10. The document has been amended to take into account the commencement of certain provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, including the introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) on 28 June 2022.

  12. The document has been amended to reflect changes to the initial age assessment policy following the judgment of the Supreme Court in R (BF (Eritrea)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 38.

  14. Updated for end of EU transition period.

  16. Guidance document updated.

  18. PDF document "Assessing age" was replaced with an updated version.

  20. Updated guidance.

  22. Link to the age assessment joint working guidance (2015) added.

  24. First published.

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Update history

2025-03-28 11:38
Updated to take into account amendments to the policy and processes in respect of those who have had a ‘significantly over 18’ decision and are subject to prosecution for immigration offences.

2024-11-08 15:57
Guidance amended to include the following amendments: how electronic copies of identity documents should be considered; how a ‘significantly over 18’ initial age decision should be interpreted and implemented in different circumstances; clarifying the safeguards and the process of assessing age in adult detention.

2024-05-24 14:54
Guidance added on the communication of age dispute related information in cases where age-disputed persons are subject to criminal investigation and prosecution for immigration related crimes.

2023-03-31 10:13
Updated the page text as the guidance is no longer under review.

2023-03-31 07:00
Guidance amended to take into account the commencement of certain provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, including the introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) on 31 March 2023.

2022-11-18 12:58
The document has been amended to take into account the commencement of certain provisions of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, including the introduction of the National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) on 28 June 2022.