UK Unveils Major Asylum Overhaul — Temporary Refugee Status, 20‑Year Route to Settlement and Threatened Visa Bans

UK overhauls asylum rules to curb irregular migration

The UK government announced a wide-ranging package of asylum changes intended to reduce irregular migration and discourage Channel crossings. Ministers said the reforms — modelled on Denmark’s strict approach — include making refugee status temporary, tightening support rules and threatening visa restrictions for countries that refuse to readmit migrants.

Refugee protections

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the current system as "out of control and unfair" and argued that the UK's relatively generous asylum offer had become a pull factor. Under the proposals, refugee status would be temporary and subject to review every 30 months. People could be required to return to their country of origin once it is judged safe, and the route to permanent settlement would be extended from five years to 20 years.

The government said: "We are obliged to offer sanctuary to those who would be in danger if they returned to their country of origin. However, should the regime change in their home country, our approach should change too." Ministers also confirmed that, in some cases, children could be subject to removal and said a consultation on that policy would follow.

Asylum seeker support

The package would end the legal duty to provide state support to asylum seekers and refugees who face destitution when they can reasonably support themselves or have broken the law. Officials said people with assets would be expected to contribute to their support costs and strongly denied media claims that personal items such as jewellery would be seized to pay for stays.

So far this year more than 39,000 people have crossed the Channel on small boats; as of March 2025, more than 106,000 asylum seekers were receiving government support. Official figures show around 111,000 asylum claims in the year to June 2025, while the proportion of initial positive decisions fell from 2023 to 2024.

Visa bans and legal changes

The interior ministry threatened targeted visa bans for nationals of countries, including Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, if they refuse to accept returns of their nationals. Officials said other countries could face restrictions, including limits on travellers from states with high asylum-claim rates arriving by legal routes. The government also plans legislation to make it harder for irregular migrants and foreign criminals to use the European Convention on Human Rights to block deportations.

Reactions

The measures drew a mixed response. Hard-right figures and some opposition voices welcomed the package; Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said the measures echoed his party’s stance, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called them "steps in the right direction" but argued they did not go far enough. Charities and some Labour MPs warned the plans risk uprooting refugees who have settled in the UK and could harm children and vulnerable people. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, urged the government to reconsider, saying the proposals "will not deter" crossings and that refugees who work should be able to build "secure, settled lives."

Context and next steps

Ministers framed the reforms as necessary to "restore order and control" to the asylum system. The government will launch consultations and pursue legislation to implement the measures. The proposals are likely to face legal and political challenges and intense public debate as they progress through Parliament.