Extension of time for appeal against international protection refusal denied due to lack of special circumstances

The High Court refused an application to quash a decision of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, which had declined to extend time for a Georgian national to appeal a refusal of international protection. The court found that the applicant had failed to demonstrate special circumstances to justify the late appeal, as the missed deadlines resulted from ordinary administrative oversight within the applicant’s legal team. The court held that the regulations set a clear threshold requiring both special circumstances and that it would be unjust not to extend time, and that neither was satisfied. The applicant’s additional arguments regarding incompatibility with European Union law and the European Convention on Human Rights were also rejected. The applicant’s request for declaratory and injunctive relief was denied, and the respondents were provisionally awarded their costs, subject to written submissions.