After Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia is the region producing the most asylum appeals, and in the year to September 2025 Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka were among the leading nationalities for claims made by visa holders. This page explains, country by country, what a country condition report for these appeals has to deal with and how to frame the instruction so the report answers the questions the tribunal will ask.
At a Glance: Five Countries
| Country | Appeal Volume | Profiles Reports Most Often Cover | Country Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | High | Party politics, Hindu minority, LGBTQ+, gender violence | No current CG |
| India | Growing | Muslim and Sikh minorities, Dalits, dissidents | No current CG |
| Sri Lanka | Significant | Tamil and LTTE-linked, diaspora activists | KK [2021] UKUT 245 |
| Nepal | Moderate | Maoist-linked, Dalits, Madhesi and Janajati | No current CG |
| Bhutan | Low | Lhotshampa, political dissidents | No current CG |
Bangladesh: Reports Must Post-Date August 2024
When student-led protests forced Sheikh Hasina from office and she left for India, the political position of the main parties was turned around. A report on a Bangladeshi political claim now has to say where the appellant's affiliation stands under the new arrangements: Awami League supporters and former officials may face risks they did not face before, while BNP and Jamaat supporters may meet the argument that their circumstances have improved.
Reports written before the transition should be updated before a hearing. Claims based on Hindu minority status, or on LGBTQ+ identity under section 377 of the Penal Code, need their own analysis and do not depend on the political change.
India: Answering the Relocation Argument
Indian appeals cover Muslims facing Hindutva and RSS-linked hostility, Sikhs, Christians, Dalits and political dissidents. Because India is so large, refusal letters almost always propose relocation to another city, so a useful India report spends real time on that issue: who the persecutors are, whether they operate nationally, and how the appellant would manage in the place suggested.
Muslim appellants from Assam and border areas may also need the CAA and NRC addressed. The report should deal with the appellant's own state, since protection on the ground varies widely between states.
Sri Lanka: Working Within KK [2021]
Tamil appeals are governed by KK and Others (Sri Lanka: Tamil) CG [2021] UKUT 00245. A Sri Lanka report should take the risk categories in that decision, including LTTE links, prominent diaspora activism and giving evidence against the state, and show with evidence which of them apply to the appellant.
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan: No Guidance to Fall Back On
There is no current country guidance for these four countries. The tribunal has no settled starting point, so the report's method matters: it should name its sources, explain how reliable each is, and connect every conclusion to the appellant's circumstances rather than to the country in general.
Where CPINs Fall Short
Home Office CPINs exist for Bangladeshi political parties and religious minorities, Sikh separatism and Muslims in India, and Tamils in Sri Lanka, with more general coverage of Nepal and very little on Bhutan. They are updated slowly, which is a particular problem for Bangladesh after 2024. Our CPIN & Country Guidance page lists them by country and notes what each one leaves out.
Getting the Most from an Instruction
Reports are prepared under CPR Part 35 principles and the tribunal's practice direction on expert evidence. The most effective instructions identify the disputed country issues from the refusal letter, ask specific questions about them, and leave enough time before the hearing for an up-to-date analysis.