Britain has announced sweeping changes to its asylum system, making refugee status temporary and extending the wait for permanent settlement to 20 years.
The reforms mark the most significant overhaul of the UK’s asylum policies in recent times.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would take inspiration from Denmark, one of Europe’s toughest approaches to asylum, where temporary protection is granted, support is conditional, and integration is expected.
Rights groups have widely criticised Denmark’s system as hostile to migrants.
Under the new rules, the statutory duty to provide housing and financial support to certain asylum seekers will be removed, the Home Office said. Measures will apply to those able to work but who choose not to, or to those who break the law, prioritising taxpayer-funded support for individuals contributing to the economy and local communities.
Mahmood told Sky News: “Our system is particularly generous compared to other countries in Europe, where, after five years, you’re effectively automatically settled in this country.
We will change that.” She added that refugee status would now be “reviewed every two-and-a-half years, during a much longer path to permanent settlement in this country of 20 years.”
The Home Secretary also indicated plans to reform the interpretation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers the right to a family life.
Mahmood said it is currently “applied in a way that is designed to frustrate the removal of those that, under our immigration rules, would not have the right to be in this country.”
The government’s tougher stance has drawn criticism from more than 100 British charities, who warned Mahmood to “end the scapegoating of migrants and performative policies that only cause harm,” arguing that such steps risk fuelling racism and violence.
Polls indicate immigration has overtaken the economy as the top concern for British voters. Over the summer, protests took place outside hotels housing asylum seekers at public expense. In the year ending March 2025, 109,343 people claimed asylum in the UK, a 17% increase on the previous year and exceeding the 2002 peak.
The Home Office said its reforms would aim to “match and in some areas exceed” Denmark’s standards. In Denmark, asylum seekers are given temporary residence permits, usually for two years, and must reapply when these expire. Rejected applicants can be repatriated if their home country is deemed safe, and the path to citizenship is lengthened. The Danish approach has reportedly reduced asylum claims to a 40-year low and led to the deportation of 95% of rejected applicants.
Rights groups argue that such restrictions create a hostile climate for migrants, prolong uncertainty, and undermine protection. Britain’s Refugee Council said refugees do not compare asylum systems when fleeing danger; they often come to the UK due to family ties, knowledge of English, or existing connections that help them start anew safely.
Mahmood said the government also plans to expand “safe and legal” routes for asylum seekers, stressing that Britain should continue to play its part in helping those fleeing danger.
