Non-removal of Unaccompanied Minors

Home Office policy says that no unaccompanied minor will be removed from the UK unless it is satisfied that adequate reception and care arrangements are in place in the country to which he/she is to be removed.

The Home Office policy on dealing with applications from unaccompanied minors.

They should be given discretionary leave at least until they reach 18.

Acceptable reception arrangements will 'usually' involve locating parents or other close relatives. In the case that an unaccompanied minor's application for asylum and/or protection (usually involving a claim that removal would lead to a breach of obligations under ECHR) is refused, and it is not possible for satisfactory reception arrangements for a child under 18 to be made, the presumption is that discretionary leave will be granted for three years or until the child reaches 18, which ever comes first.