Expert Country Reports is a UK immigration and asylum expert witness firm providing independent country condition reports and expert witness testimony exclusively for asylum and immigration proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, and UK courts.
Our experts produce country condition reports matched to the specific country and thematic issues in each case.
Country Expertise
Middle East & Central Asia
- Afghanistan — Taliban persecution, women's rights, ethnic minorities
- Iran — Political opposition, religious minorities, LGBTQ+
- Iraq — IS legacy, Kurdish region, militia activity
- Syria — Conflict zones, forced conscription
- Yemen — Houthi control, conflict
Africa
- Somalia — Al-Shabaab, clan-based persecution
- Eritrea — National service, political dissent
- Sudan / South Sudan — Conflict, ethnic persecution
- DRC — Armed groups, ethnic violence
- Zimbabwe — Political persecution
- Nigeria — Boko Haram, LGBTQ+ persecution
Europe & Former Soviet
- Albania — Blood feud, LGBTQ+
- Kosovo — Ethnic minority persecution
- Russia — Political opposition, LGBTQ+, journalists
- Ukraine — Conflict, displacement
Latin America
- Colombia — FARC/ELN, paramilitary
- Venezuela — Political persecution, Maduro regime
- Honduras / Guatemala / El Salvador — Gang violence, MS-13, Barrio 18
Thematic Expertise
Political Persecution
Opposition activists, journalists, civil society
Religious Persecution
Minority faiths, apostasy, blasphemy
LGBTQ+ Asylum
Criminalisation, social persecution, discretion doctrine
Gender-Based Violence
FGM, honour-based violence, domestic violence as persecution
Ethnic Minority Persecution
Ethnic cleansing, discrimination, statelessness
Child & Separated Minor Asylum
Best interests, recruitment by armed groups, child marriage
Internal Relocation
Viability analysis, reasonableness, persecutor reach
Country Guidance Cases
Upper Tribunal CG case compatibility analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a country condition report in UK asylum proceedings?
A country condition report in UK asylum proceedings is an expert document providing independent, referenced analysis of conditions in a claimant's country of origin — including the political situation, human rights record, treatment of specific groups, availability of state protection, and internal relocation viability. It is submitted as expert evidence in First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal appeals and must comply with FPR Part 25.
What must a country condition expert report contain under FPR Part 25?
Under FPR Part 25 and Practice Direction 25B, a country condition expert report must include: the expert's qualifications and experience, a summary of instructions received, the substance of the facts and materials relied upon, the expert's opinion and reasoning, a summary of conclusions, and a statement of truth confirming the expert's understanding of their duty to the tribunal.
How is a country condition report different from Home Office CPIN guidance?
Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) are produced by the Home Office and reflect the government's position on country conditions. An independent expert country condition report is produced by an expert with no institutional interest in the outcome, drawing on primary sources and current knowledge. Independent expert evidence can identify gaps, inaccuracies, or outdated content in CPINs and provide the tribunal with a more complete picture of conditions in the country of origin.
Can Expert Country Reports provide reports for country guidance cases?
Yes. Expert Country Reports provides country condition expert reports for country guidance cases before the Upper Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber). Country guidance cases require the most rigorous and comprehensive country condition analysis, grounded in primary sources and capable of withstanding intensive cross-examination.
How do I Request a country condition report for a UK asylum appeal?
To Request a country condition report for a UK asylum appeal, submit a brief via our engagement form — providing the country of origin, the issues to be addressed, the relevant tribunal, and your hearing context. We will identify the right expert and provide a scope and fee proposal.