Upper Tribunal

Overview

The Upper Tribunal is the appellate tier of the unified tribunal system. It has four Chambers: Administrative Appeals, Immigration and Asylum, Lands, and Tax and Chancery. It hears appeals from the First-tier Tribunal on points of law and exercises a judicial-review jurisdiction in some immigration matters. Decisions are precedential and published as 'reported decisions' on the official site.

What it handles

• Appeals from the First-tier Tribunal (with permission)
• Judicial review of immigration decisions (in defined classes)
• Lands valuation disputes
• Specialist tax cases (Tax and Chancery Chamber)

Process

1. Step 1: Apply for permission

   If you're appealing a decision made by the tribunal or organisation that decided your case, you must first ask that decision-maker for permission to appeal, usually within 28 days of the decision.

2. Step 2: Renew to the Upper Tribunal

   If permission is refused, you can ask the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) directly for permission to appeal, using the relevant form.

3. Step 3: Hearing or paper decision

   A judge decides the case using the appeal form and the documents provided, sometimes after a hearing; you're usually told at least 14 days beforehand if there's going to be one.

4. Step 4: Decision issued

   The Upper Tribunal's decision is sent to the appellant by post.

5. Step 5: Appeal to a higher court

   If you lose and think there was a legal mistake, you must write to the tribunal asking for permission to appeal to a higher court before you can do so.

Appeals

Court of Appeal (Civil Division) on point of law, with permission.

Official sources