On 17 November 2025, the government announced major proposed changes to UK asylum policy. Drawing on similar policies implemented in Denmark, the stated aim is to “restore order and control to our borders” and deter people from seeking asylum in the UK.
In response, leaders from the Baptist, Methodist and United Reformed Churches expressed concern that the changes did not reflect an approach that prioritised human dignity, but instead would “place more demands on vulnerable individuals and an overstretched system”.
What is proposed?
Making refugee status temporary
People granted refugee status will have to apply for this to be renewed every 30 months, compared to five years at present.
Far longer routes to permanent settlement
People seeking asylum who have entered the UK via irregular routes, such as by crossing the English Channel, would have to wait 20 years before they could apply for indefinite leave to remain. Currently, it’s five years.
It should be noted that for most people there is no option to apply for asylum in the UK without entering through an irregular route, even though under the Refugee Convention people have the legal right to seek refuge here.
Returning refugees home if their country is deemed “safe”
During this 20 year wait period, refugee status could be revoked at any time if people’s country of origin is deemed to be or become “safe”. This would also affect Ukrainians who are in the UK under temporary protection, should the war in Ukraine end. It is not clear what would happen to children born to refugee parents in the UK if their parents lose their leave to remain.
Removing automatic housing and financial support for people seeking asylum, who would otherwise face destitution
Assistance could be removed from people who have the right to work but are unemployed, or those working illegally, who have broken the law, or not complied with removal directions. It’s important to note that most people seeking asylum do not have the right to work, unless they have specific skills in a limited list of fields, and they have waited for more than a year for a decision on their asylum claim.
Narrowly reinterpreting the ‘right to family life’
Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relate to the right to family life, are grounds on which people can challenge asylum decisions. The government intends to legislate to narrow the acceptable interpretation of this right by the courts, to only refer to immediate family members. The right to refugee family reunion will also be removed.
New safe routes
A new safe regulated route will be introduced for people to seek refuge in the UK with sponsorship support from individuals or communities. The numbers will be capped.
What impact will these changes have?
There is very little evidence that ‘deterrent’ approaches work. The Home Office’s own research has found the main reasons why people choose to seek refuge in the UK are factors like language and community connections.
However, it is clear that the proposals would place addition burdens on the already overstretched asylum system, as well as on those seeking asylum. They would also not serve to encourage new arrivals to settle and integrate into communities.
The changes come alongside wider proposed reforms to immigration policy, announced in May 2025, for those coming to the UK on visas via legal migration routes. These would see a doubling of the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also known as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) from five to ten years, and require visa applicants to have a higher standard of English. These changes are currently subject to a government consultation.
