If you’re applying by yourself, you can borrow between £100 and £500. If you’re applying with your partner, you can borrow between £100 and £780. What you can use your loan for You can only use the loan for things that are essential to help you to settle into UK society, including: a housing deposit, rent payment or moving costs essential items for your home training or education basic living costs (such as food or household bills) work clothing and equipment What you cannot use your loan for You cannot use the loan to pay for certain things, including: debts travel costs for family members to join you in the UK You may be asked to prove how you spent the loan. You may have to repay it in full straight away if you do not use it for the reason you said on your application.

The loan will be paid directly into your bank or building society account. Repaying the loan If your application is successful, you’ll be sent a loan agreement which will tell you how to repay the loan. You will not have to start repaying the loan until 6 weeks after you get the money. How much your repayments are and how you pay will depend on your circumstances. You may have to pay more and in a shorter time if you start working and your benefits change. For example, if you’re receiving Universal Credit, you’ll pay back up to £25 a month. If you work full-time, you’ll need to pay back £50 a month. Your loan will not usually affect any income-related benefits you get unless you have more than £6,000 in savings. You must tell Jobcentre Plus if you get an integration loan.

You must be over 18 and one of the following: a refugee you have humanitarian protection a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection You can also apply for a joint loan with your husband, wife or partner. You cannot apply if you: are under 18 are an asylum seeker who’s been allowed to settle by a decision outside the Immigration Rules have had an integration loan before, including a joint loan Your application may be refused if you’ve been convicted of a criminal offence since you arrived in the UK.

You must apply online for an integration loan . To apply you’ll need your: biometric residence permit (BRP) Home Office reference number bank or building society account details You’ll also need to provide your National Insurance number. If you do not have one, you must apply for one at your local Jobcentre Plus before you apply for an integration loan. If you’ve already applied by post or email You can no longer apply by post or email. If you sent an application by post or email before 18 May 2020 your application will still be reviewed. You do not need to do anything. Get more help Your local refugee community organisation can help you with your application and filling in the form. You can also contact the integration loan team. Integration loan team Integrationloan@homeoffice.gov.uk After you’ve applied You’ll get a decision within 4 weeks. If your application is successful, you’ll get an email or letter asking you to accept a loan agreement. After you accept the agreement, you’ll receive your loan payment. If you have not been contacted about your application after 4 weeks, email the integration loan team.

Refugee integration loan

Overview

You can apply for a refugee integration loan to pay for things like:

a rent deposit or rent
household items
education and training for work

You must be over 18 and one of the following:

a refugee
you have humanitarian protection
a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection

You can apply for the loan either by yourself or with your partner.

Integration loans are interest-free - you only pay back what you borrow, but you must make regular payments.

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus before applying for this loan to see if you can get help with training, education, work, living or childcare costs - you may be able to get this help for free.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Refugee integration loan

Overview

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Refugee integration loan

Overview

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