UK Prepares Major Asylum Changes: 20-Year Wait for Permanent Status

WISE NEWS PRESS / LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — NOVEMBER 17, 2025

The UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is preparing to announce drastic changes to the country's asylum policy, including a requirement for refugees to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement.

Mahmood described the fight against illegal migration as a "moral mission," aiming to make the UK a less attractive destination for those arriving via unauthorized routes, though the plans have faced sharp criticism from both political opponents and refugee charities. The new measures, expected to be unveiled on Monday, are fundamentally designed to reduce small boat crossings and asylum applications by deterring illegal entry.

Regular Reviews and the 20-Year Rule

Under the new proposals, the status of individuals granted refugee protection will be regularly reviewed. If their home country is deemed safe, they will be asked to return.

The central change is the extension of the waiting period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Currently, refugee status lasts five years, after which individuals can apply for permanent residency. Mahmood intends to increase this period to 20 years. Refugee statuses will be reviewed after two-and-a-half years, with regular checks thereafter.

Mahmood suggested that asylum seekers who use "safe and legal routes" to enter the country, work, and contribute to society may have the option to apply for permanent settlement sooner, though she provided no details.

Modelled on Denmark's Strict System

The policy is known to be inspired by Denmark, which operates one of Europe's strictest asylum regimes. In Denmark, refugees are given temporary residence permits for two years, effectively requiring them to reapply for asylum upon expiration.

Mahmood defended her proposals, arguing they are necessary to fix "unfair" conditions that she claims sometimes offer better advantages to some asylum seekers than to UK citizens: "Illegal immigration is causing huge division in our country. If we are to retain public support for the asylum system, we must act."

Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program, Mahmood, who is the child of immigrants, emphasized, "This is a moral mission for me because I see illegal migration tearing our country apart, dividing communities."

A "Moral Mission" Meets Criticism

Mahmood’s tough stance has drawn fire from within her own Labour Party. MP Clive Lewis argued that adopting the Danish model reflected "far-right rhetoric" and risked alienating left-leaning Labour voters.

The Refugee Council's CEO, Enver Solomon, criticized the 20-year wait, stating it would not deter migrants but instead "will leave people in decades of uncertainty." Solomon emphasized the need for a controlled and fair system based on timely decisions and allowing recognized refugees to contribute to society.

According to recent figures, the UK received 109,343 asylum applications in the 12 months up to March, a 17% increase on the previous year. Home Office data shows that 10,289 migrants have arrived by small boats since Mahmood became Home Secretary on September 5, pushing this year's total past 39,000.

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