Oral Hearings
Some appeals before TARA may include an oral hearing as part of the process
About oral hearings
Under the International Protection Act 2026 (Section 191), the Tribunal will make a decision on your appeal without holding an oral hearing unless you have requested a hearing and the assigned Appeals Officer is of the opinion that a full examination of the appeal cannot be achieved without one.
Oral hearings may take place at our office in Hanover Street, in Citywest, or online.
A hearing, whether online or in person, will have the following people in attendance:
- An Appeals Officer
- The Appellant (Yourself) and your legal representative
- A Presenting Officer (where applicable) – This is an officer representing the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whose role it is to explain to the Tribunal the decision under appeal.
- Where necessary, an interpreter, who will speak in a language that you can understand
- Any witnesses (where applicable)
Online hearings
Hearings may also take place online via the (platform TBC).
Hearing participants will be provided with a link to join the online hearing room in advance of the hearing. Please do not share this link with anyone who is not officially invited to the hearing.
Please join your online hearing from a computer or laptop if possible. If you do not have a computer, your legal representative may be able to provide one for you.
It is important that you connect to the hearing from a private place, where you will not be disturbed. Apart from your legal representative, no other person should be in the room with you. If a family member is involved in the hearing as a witness or a joint-appellant, they are likely to be asked to leave the room while you give your evidence.
It is a criminal offence to personally record a hearing under Section 31(5)(a) of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020. As noted above, the Tribunal will carry out an audio recording of the hearing.
In-person hearings
When your hearing is in person, please arrive 15 minutes before it is due to start. On arrival, please report to the security officer, located just inside the main door of the building. You will then be shown to the reception area, where a member of staff will ask you to wait until the hearing starts.
When the hearing is ready to start, a staff member will show you to the hearing room. At the start of the hearing, you will be asked to take an oath on a Holy Book from your religion, or to make an affirmation if you are not religious. In most cases, you will be asked to give evidence at the hearing, which means that you will be asked to answer questions by your legal representative first, and then by the Presenting Officer. The Appeals Officer may also ask questions.
The Tribunal makes every effort to deliver its decisions without delay.
Water is provided in the hearing rooms. If you need to take a break during the hearing, please ask the Appeals Officer.
Occasionally, a witness may be called to attend an oral hearing. They will be asked to remain outside the hearing room until they are called in by the Appeals Officer.