UK unveils radical asylum overhaul, proposing temporary refugee status and benefit cuts
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled major UK asylum reforms Monday, including temporary refugee status, benefit withdrawal, and visa bans for countries blocking migrant returns.
November 17, 2025 - 05:26 PM ET • 3 min read
The United Kingdom government, led by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, unveiled a sweeping package of asylum reforms on Monday, which officials described as the most radical measures in modern times aimed at tackling undocumented migration.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood justified the necessity of the new restrictions, stating that the current asylum system is "not working," is "out of control and unfair," and is placing "intense strain on communities." She noted that the country has received 400,000 asylum applications in the last four years, with over 100,000 people currently housed in reception facilities.
Mahmood, who had stated Sunday that undocumented migration was "tearing the country apart," said she had a "moral duty" to fix the "broken asylum system" and "unite what is today a divided country."
The proposals fundamentally alter the path to settlement for refugees and include measures modeled on the stringent immigration policies of Denmark.
Under the new plan, refugee status will become temporary. Individuals granted asylum will only be allowed to stay in the UK temporarily, with their status subject to review every 30 months (two-and-a-half years). If a refugee's home country is later judged to be safe, they could face deportation. Authorities said they would begin exploring forced returns to countries, including Syria.
The reforms also end the automatic right to permanent settlement after five years. Instead, most asylum seekers will have to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settled status.
In addition to changes in status, the government plans to withdraw state benefits and subsidies from asylum seekers who have the right to work and are able to support themselves. Mahmood criticized the current system, noting that more than half of refugees continue to receive aid eight years after their arrival. The package also aims to speed up deportations when asylum claims are rejected.
To increase the rate of returns, the government has threatened to impose visa bans on countries that refuse to accept the repatriation of their citizens who are deemed criminals or illegal immigrants. The Home Office specifically stated it would stop granting visas to citizens of Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless those nations agree to accept the return of their irregular migrants.
The proposals have drawn immediate criticism from migrant support groups and political opponents. The Refugee Council stated that making refugee status temporary is both "highly impractical" and "inhumane."
The Scottish government also expressed deep concern over the plans. Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scotland's Social Justice Secretary, argued that the changes would not deliver a "controlled and humane asylum system." The proposals have also faced criticism from some members of the governing Labour Party.