Refugees to Face 20-Year Wait for Permanent Settlement Under UK Asylum "Reforms"

Asylum seekers granted refugee status in the United Kingdom will have to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent residency, under radical plans set to be announced by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday.

This drastic change in asylum policy comes as the government seeks to curb asylum applications and small boat crossings.

Details of the Proposed Changes

The new plans will render refugee status in the UK entirely temporary, where:

• Initial Period Cut: The initial period of stay will be reduced from five years to two and a half years.

• Regular Review: Refugee status will be reviewed regularly, and those whose countries of origin are deemed safe will be required to return.

• Permanent Residency (ILR): The period for obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain will be significantly extended from 5 years to 20 years.

Shabana Mahmood told the Sunday Times that the reforms are designed to send a clear message: "Do not come to this country as an illegal immigrant, do not get on a boat." She added that "illegal immigration is tearing our country apart," and that failure to solve the problem will make the country "more divided."

Policy Inspiration and Opposition

The Minister drew inspiration for this policy from Denmark, whose government is led by the Social Democratic Party (centre-left) and applies one of the toughest asylum and immigration systems in Europe. In Denmark, refugees are granted temporary residence permits, typically for two years, and must practically reapply for asylum upon expiry.

Mahmood's new approach is certain to face opposition from some Labour MPs.

• Refugee Council: Chief Executive Enver Solomon said that setting the 20-year limit will create "extreme uncertainty and anxiety for years, instead of deterring them." He called for a fair, timely, and well-managed system.

• Liberal Democrats: Home Affairs Spokesperson Max Wilkinson argued that the solution lies in speeding up application processing, not in alternative measures.

Recent Asylum Figures

Government data indicates that 109,343 people filed asylum applications in the UK in the 12 months ending in March this year, a 17% increase. Over 39,000 people arrived in the UK via small boats in 2025.