The UK government will make people granted asylum wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce on Monday.
Under the proposed reforms, refugee status would be treated as temporary and reviewed regularly. People granted asylum would only be allowed to remain on a short-term basis, and if their country of origin is later judged safe they could be required to return. At present, refugees receive status that lasts five years, after which they may apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Mahmood proposes cutting the initial protected period from five years to two-and-a-half years, with regular status reviews thereafter, and extending the qualifying period for permanent residence from five years to 20. The government says the changes aim to deter illegal crossings—particularly small boat crossings—and reduce asylum claims.
The home secretary framed the overhaul as a message against irregular migration, arguing it is damaging social cohesion and that the government must act to bring the country together.
The policy resembles the approach used in Denmark, where a Social Democrat-led government has introduced one of Europe’s stricter asylum regimes. In Denmark, refugees typically receive temporary permits of around two years and must reapply when those permits expire.
The proposals are expected to prompt debate within Labour and across Parliament. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson said it was reasonable for the government to explore new ways to address what he called the disorderly asylum system left by the Conservatives, but added that such measures are not a substitute for quicker processing and effective removal of people who have no right to remain.
Refugee advocacy groups voiced strong criticism. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, described the plans as harsh and unnecessary and warned they would not deter people fleeing persecution, torture or the killing of family members in brutal conflicts.
