How To Gather Country of Origin Evidence for an Asylum Appeal

Country of origin evidence is a key component of asylum appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). It refers to objective information about conditions in a person's country of nationality or habitual residence, used to assess whether they would face persecution, serious harm, or human rights violations if returned.

Tribunals rely heavily on this type of evidence alongside personal testimony to determine risk on return. It helps place an individual claim within a wider factual and political context, including issues such as conflict, human rights abuses, discrimination, and state protection.

This article explains how to gather country of origin evidence, the types of sources used, how tribunals assess it, and practical steps for preparing it effectively for an appeal.

1. What Country of Origin Evidence Is

Country of origin evidence (COI) is objective information about conditions in a specific country. It is used in asylum and human rights appeals to assess:

• Risk of persecution or serious harm
• Availability of state protection
• Internal relocation possibilities
• Treatment of particular groups (e.g. political, religious, ethnic, or social groups)
• Human rights standards and enforcement

It is separate from personal evidence. While personal evidence describes what happened to an individual, country evidence explains whether such harm is likely or consistent with known conditions.

2. Legal Importance in Asylum Appeals

Country evidence plays a central role in decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber). It is used to assess claims under:

• The Refugee Convention 1951
• Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
• Humanitarian protection provisions under UK immigration law

Tribunals are required to consider objective country information when determining risk on return. Failure to engage with relevant country evidence may amount to an error of law in appeal proceedings.

3. Main Official Sources of Country of Origin Evidence

A. Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs)

The most important source used by tribunals is the Home Office's Country Policy and Information Notes.

These reports:

• Are produced by the Home Office Country Policy and Information Team
• Summarise risk conditions in specific countries
• Cover issues such as political situation, human rights, and treatment of groups
• Are frequently relied upon by tribunals as authoritative background evidence

CPINs are often the starting point for both parties in an appeal.

B. Country Guidance Case Law

The Upper Tribunal and higher courts issue country guidance cases, which are binding on the First-tier Tribunal unless there is strong reason not to follow them.

These cases:

• Provide judicial findings on risk in specific countries or regions
• Are based on extensive expert and documentary evidence
• Are regularly updated or replaced by newer guidance

Examples include country-specific guidance on conflict zones, asylum seeker treatment, and minority group risks.

C. International Organisations

Highly persuasive sources include:

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports
• Amnesty International reports
• Human Rights Watch publications
• United Nations human rights treaty bodies

These organisations provide independent analysis of human rights conditions and state conduct.

D. Government and Diplomatic Reports

Other useful sources include:

• Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) country reports
• US State Department Human Rights Reports
• European Union asylum and migration reports (where relevant)

These are often used to corroborate general country conditions.

E. Academic and Expert Reports

Independent expert reports may include:

• Academic research papers
• Expert witness statements
• University or think tank publications

These are particularly useful where specific regional or group-based risks are disputed.

F. Media Reports

Credible media sources may be used to demonstrate:

• Recent developments in conflict or instability
• Patterns of violence or discrimination
• Government actions affecting human rights

However, tribunals typically prefer corroboration from more authoritative institutional sources.

4. How Tribunals Assess Country Evidence

The First-tier Tribunal evaluates country evidence based on:

• Relevance to the individual claim
• Credibility and independence of the source
• Consistency with other objective material
• Currency (how up to date it is)
• Alignment with binding country guidance cases

Where there is conflict between sources, tribunals will generally prefer official guidance or country guidance case law unless there is strong evidence to depart from it.

5. How To Identify Relevant Country Evidence

Effective preparation requires focusing on evidence that directly relates to the claim.

Key steps include:

Step 1: Identify the Core Claim

Determine whether the asylum claim is based on:

• Political opinion
• Religion
• Ethnicity
• Sexual orientation or gender identity
• Membership of a social group
• General conflict or violence

Step 2: Match Evidence to Risk Category

Select evidence that addresses:

• Treatment of similar individuals
• Ability of the state to provide protection
• Presence of armed groups or violence
• Legal and social conditions

Step 3: Focus on Regional Specificity

Where possible, evidence should relate to:

• Specific regions or cities
• Local security conditions
• Regional authorities and practices

Country-wide generalisations may be less persuasive.

6. How To Gather Country Evidence for an Appeal Bundle

Step 1: Use Authoritative Databases

Start with:

• UK Home Office CPIN database
• UNHCR publications
• Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International websites

Step 2: Collect Recent Reports

Tribunals place weight on:

• Recent publications (preferably within the last few years)
• Updated conflict or political analysis
• Current legal or policy developments

Older reports may still be relevant if conditions are stable.

Step 3: Organise Evidence Clearly

Country evidence should be:

• Indexed in the appeal bundle
• Grouped by topic (e.g. political persecution, security conditions)
• Clearly paginated
• Summarised where appropriate

Step 4: Cross-Reference With Personal Evidence

The strongest appeals link:

• Personal account of risk
• Objective country evidence supporting that risk

For example, if an appellant claims persecution due to political activity, country evidence should show treatment of similar activists.

7. Common Mistakes When Using Country Evidence

Frequent errors include:

• Including irrelevant general country information
• Relying on outdated reports
• Failing to link evidence to the individual claim
• Overloading the bundle with excessive material
• Ignoring binding country guidance cases
• Using unreliable or non-credible sources

Tribunals may disregard poorly targeted or excessive material.

8. Role of Country Guidance Cases

Country guidance cases issued by the Upper Tribunal are particularly important.

They:

• Set binding legal principles on risk assessment
• Provide structured findings on specific countries
• Must be followed unless there is strong new evidence

Failure to apply relevant country guidance may result in an error of law on appeal.

9. Time Sensitivity of Country Evidence

Country conditions can change rapidly due to:

• Armed conflict
• Political instability
• Government change
• Legal reforms affecting human rights

It is therefore important to ensure:

• Evidence is up to date
• Recent developments are included
• Older material is contextualised

10. Practical Approach to Building Country Evidence

A structured method includes:

1. Identify the asylum claim basis
2. Review relevant CPIN reports
3. Identify binding country guidance cases
4. Collect supporting NGO and UN reports
5. Add targeted media or academic evidence
6. Organise by issue and relevance
7. Cross-check consistency with personal evidence
8. Ensure proper indexing in the bundle

Common Questions from our Readers

What is the most important source of country evidence?

Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes and Upper Tribunal country guidance cases are the most influential.

Can I use news articles as evidence?

Yes, but they are generally supporting material rather than primary authority.

Do I need country evidence in every asylum appeal?

Most appeals benefit from country evidence, especially where risk is disputed.

How recent should country evidence be?

It should be as recent as possible, but older evidence may still be relevant if conditions are stable.

Final Thoughts

Country of origin evidence is a core component of asylum appeals and plays a key role in determining risk on return. Effective preparation involves using authoritative sources such as CPINs, country guidance cases, and international reports, while ensuring the material is relevant, up to date, and directly linked to the individual claim.

A well-structured approach that integrates objective country conditions with personal evidence strengthens the overall credibility and coherence of an appeal.