Country of Origin Information (COI) Report - UK asylum legal evidence
Asylum Country Expert prepares Country of Origin Information (COI) reports for immigration solicitors, barristers, and NGOs worldwide. A COI report is objective, source-based evidence describing conditions in an applicant's country of origin, structured for use in national tribunals, protection hearings, and appellate courts.
Unlike generic country profiles, our COI reports address the specific grounds of claim, client profile, and legal issues in dispute. Every report cites primary sources - Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes, UNHCR eligibility guidance, EUAA country guidance, and independent human rights organisations - with a full source annex for bundle use.
Who uses COI reports in asylum cases?
Immigration solicitors instruct COI reports to strengthen asylum, humanitarian protection, and appeal bundles where country conditions are contested. Barristers rely on expert country evidence for skeleton arguments and cross-examination of Home Office country guidance. NGOs use COI material for policy work and individual case support.
Country of Origin Information (COI) refers to verified material about human rights, security, and social conditions in the applicant's country. Tribunals assess whether a real risk of persecution or serious harm exists under the Refugee Convention and Article 3 ECHR. Current, tailored COI is essential where Home Office decisions rely on outdated or generic country information.
What does a COI report include?
Each report includes an executive summary, structured analysis of relevant country conditions, assessment of risk factors aligned to the client's profile, and a comprehensive source annex. We distinguish established fact from expert analysis and flag areas where evidence is limited or contested.
Reports are paginated, bookmarked, and delivered in PDF (Word available on request). Standard delivery is 7–14 working days. Urgent (2–5 days) and emergency (24–48 hours) instructions are accepted subject to capacity.
Evidential standards for UK tribunals
Our COI reports are prepared to meet the evidential requirements of UK immigration tribunals. Sources are hierarchised and dated. The expert's methodology is transparent. Reports are suitable for submission as expert or documentary evidence depending on case strategy.
We do not advocate for applicants. Our role is to provide independent, authoritative country analysis that assists the tribunal in determining the appeal. This impartiality is central to expert evidence in asylum proceedings.
Our process
- 1
Request
Submit case details, client profile, grounds, and deadlines.
- 2
Research
Targeted research using Home Office CPINs, UNHCR, EUAA, and NGO sources.
- 3
Draft
Structured narrative addressing your specific legal issues.
- 4
Legal review
Internal quality assurance for accuracy and evidential standards.
- 5
Delivery
PDF report with source annex, ready for tribunal bundle.
Key questions answered
What is a Country of Origin Information (COI) report?
A COI report is a structured, source-based document describing conditions in an applicant's country of origin for use as legal evidence in asylum proceedings.
Reports compile Home Office CPINs, UNHCR guidance, EUAA materials, and NGO research into a tribunal-ready format addressing the specific grounds of claim.
Supporting fact: The term COI is standard in UK immigration law and Home Office decision-making.
Why do solicitors commission COI reports?
Solicitors commission COI reports to strengthen evidential bundles where country conditions are disputed, outdated, or require expert synthesis beyond Home Office country guidance.
A tailored report addresses the client's profile - ethnicity, political opinion, gender, religion - rather than providing generic country overviews.
What sources are used in a COI report?
We use Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes, UNHCR, EUAA, US State Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and verified media with full source annex.
Source hierarchy and currency are documented. Contested or limited evidence is flagged transparently to withstand tribunal scrutiny.
In what format are COI reports delivered?
Reports are delivered in paginated PDF with executive summary, structured narrative, and source annex. Word format is available on request for bundle integration.
Reports are structured for direct citation in skeleton arguments and witness statements without requiring reformatting by the legal team.
How much does a COI report cost?
Fees are discussed on enquiry and depend on country complexity, scope, urgency, and word count. Transparent quotes are provided before instruction is confirmed.
Urgent and emergency instructions may incur additional fees. Legal aid rates can be discussed for publicly funded matters.
Frequently asked questions
Fees discussed on enquiry.
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