As the UK government intensifies efforts to curb irregular migration, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce sweeping changes that will drastically extend the path to permanent settlement for asylum seekers.
Under the new plans, individuals granted asylum will no longer receive the standard five-year period of refugee status. Instead, they will be given just two-and-a-half years before undergoing routine reviews to determine whether conditions in their home countries have improved. If deemed safe, they will be expected to return.
The shift marks a dramatic departure from current policy, where refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. Mahmood now intends to stretch that timeline to 20 years, making permanent settlement a far more distant prospect for those seeking safety in the UK.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, the home secretary framed the reforms as a strong deterrent.
“These measures are designed to send a clear message: do not attempt to enter the UK illegally, do not risk your life on a boat,” she said.
Mahmood described illegal migration as an issue “tearing our country apart,” stressing that the government’s responsibility is to adopt policies that “bring the country together.”
The announcement comes as the government faces rising pressure to address small boat crossings and soaring asylum claims—setting the stage for one of the most consequential changes to the UK’s refugee system in years.
