General · 16 November 2025
UK extends refugee settlement wait to 20 years
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the most significant asylum reforms in decades, extending the wait for permanent settlement from five to 20 years for refugees. The overhaul, modeled on Denmark's strict system, makes refugee status temporary with regular 30-month reviews and mandatory return when home countries are deemed safe. Support for asylum seekers becomes discretionary, ending guaranteed housing and allowances. The reforms aim to deter illegal migration amid rising asylum claims exceeding 100,000 annually, though critics warn of prolonged uncertainty for genuine refugees.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs