Safe Countries of Origin
Safe Countries of origin or white list countries are those in which there is 'in general no serious risk of persecution' (NIAA 2002 s 94(5). Section 94(3) says that the Secretary of State shall certify an application from one of these countries 'unless satisfied that it is not clearly unfounded'.
The effect of the certificate is that there is no in-country right of appeal, and the applicant may have to conduct their appeal from the country which they are afraid of returning to.
The Immigration and Asylum (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004 Schedule 3 will introduce three categories of safe countries. The Schedule came into force on 1st October 2004. The first list comprises of 26 States, which include the EU countries, Norway, and Iceland. The second will include countries added by order of the Secretary of State deemed to be safe and the third list include countries which are considered to offer protection to refugees but not necessarily respect their human rights.

