The UK Home Office has unveiled a sweeping new policy framework titled “Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy,” designed to fundamentally reshape the UK’s approach to international protection. The reforms aim to reduce illegal arrivals by removing “pull factors” and significantly accelerating the removal of those with no right to remain.
These changes, which draw inspiration from the Danish system, mark a significant departure from previous policy, challenging the long-standing assumption that refugee status leads swiftly to permanent settlement. For the full official policy paper detailing these reforms, please refer to the Home Office White Paper on the Core Protection Policy.
Step 1: Ending Permanent Refugee Status (Core Protection)
The most transformative change is the conversion of refugee status from a long-term guarantee into a temporary arrangement subject to repeated review.
Refugee Leave and Settlement Timeline
| Policy Area | Current System (Pre-Reform) | Proposed System (Core Protection) |
| Initial Grant of Leave | Five years of guaranteed protection. | Reduced to 30 months (two-and-a-half years). |
| Review Schedule | Minimal review until settlement application. | Status reviewed at the end of every 30-month period to assess continued need for protection. |
| Path to Permanent Settlement | Eligible after five years (Indefinite Leave to Remain). | No path to settlement for 20 years on the Core Protection route. |
| Condition for Removal | Primarily criminality or rule breaches. | Removal is triggered as soon as the home country is deemed safe. |
The new “Core Protection” offer is intentionally temporary, removing the expectation of rapid permanent settlement and ensuring that protection is only provided for as long as it is absolutely necessary.
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Step 2: New Work & Study Route and Limiting Family Reunion
To incentivize integration and contribution, a new pathway will be created, while the automatic right to family reunion is curtailed.
- The Protection Work and Study Visa: This new route will be created solely for refugees who obtain employment or commence study at an appropriate level. Those who successfully switch to this route will be able to “earn” settlement quicker than the 20 years mandated by the Core Protection route.
- Restricted Family Reunion: Under the Core Protection status, there will be no automatic right to family reunion. Refugees will only become eligible to sponsor family members if they transition onto the Protection Work and Study route, and even then, they will be subject to strict financial and qualifying tests applicable to other legal migrants.
Step 3: Removing Guaranteed Financial Support
The government plans to repeal the legal duty that mandates support for all destitute asylum seekers, reverting to a discretionary power to offer assistance.
| Area of Support | Current Status | Policy Change |
| Legal Duty to Support | Statutory duty to provide housing and financial assistance (introduced in 2005 under EU law). | The legal duty will be revoked, restoring a discretionary power to offer support. |
| Expectation of Contribution | Minimal requirement for those receiving support. | Individuals with income or assets (excluding wedding rings or essential heirlooms) will be forced to contribute towards the cost of their support and accommodation. |
| Non-Compliance Sanctions | Support generally maintained. | The Home Office may deny or withdraw support from individuals who have the right to work but refuse to support themselves, engage in criminality, or fail to comply with removal directions. |
Step 4: Accelerated Removals and Appeals Reform
A key component of “Restoring Order and Control” is streamlining the end-to-end asylum process to accelerate the removal of failed asylum seekers.
- Appeals Overhaul: A new independent appeals body, staffed by professionally trained adjudicators, will be established to handle all relevant matters in a single, comprehensive appeal.
- Limiting Appeals: Claimants will be restricted to one single opportunity to appeal a negative decision, ending the cycle of repeated claims and late appeals that delay removals.
- Enforced Returns: The government plans to remove people not previously removed, including family groups whose claims have failed and whose home country is deemed safe (e.g., around 700 Albanian families currently in taxpayer-funded accommodation).
Step 5: Amending Human Rights Law Application
The reforms also target the legal obstacles that frustrate removals, specifically challenging the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR):
- Article 8 (Right to Family Life): Legislation will be introduced to rebalance Article 8, ensuring the public interest in enforcing immigration rules (safeguarding communities and reducing pressure on public services) is prioritized. The definition of “family” will be narrowed (typically to parents and children), making it harder to use the clause to prevent deportations.
- Article 3 (Prohibition of Inhuman Treatment): The government plans to pursue international reform regarding the application of Article 3, which it claims has been misused to prevent the removal of foreign national offenders.
These reforms signal a clear and aggressive policy intent to deter illegal entry and reduce the asylum caseload by reducing benefits and making protection inherently temporary.
