Expert Country Reports provides independent country condition reports and expert witness testimony for asylum and immigration proceedings worldwide, prepared to tribunal and court evidentiary standards.
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 asylum proceedings?
A country condition report 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 immigration tribunal and court proceedings and must meet the applicable expert-evidence standards.
What must a country condition expert report contain under expert evidence rules?
A country condition expert report typically includes: 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 government country guidance?
Government country policy and information notes are produced by state authorities 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 government guidance 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 immigration tribunals. 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 an asylum appeal?
To request a country condition report for an asylum appeal, submit a brief using our request form, giving 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.