The UK is preparing a major reform of the asylum system, which completely changes the approach to refugee status: it will become temporary, and the grounds for stay will be checked more frequently. This is reported by Reuters.
Updates to asylum rules in the UK
The government plans to abolish the permanent refugee status. Decisions about residency will be reviewed every 2.5 years, and protection may be revoked if the country of origin is deemed safe. The procedure for obtaining permanent residence is also changing: the path to ILR may increase from 5 to 20 years for certain groups, including those who entered illegally.
Social support will no longer be automatic: it will be available only to those who genuinely cannot work, adhere to the law, and integrate into the community. People with assets or who can work but do not may lose access to benefits.
Temporary status, artificial intelligence, and Ukrainians in the UK
The government is partly looking at Denmark's model, where refugee status is temporary and regularly reviewed. The UK is also considering the use of AI to determine the age of migrants, which has already drawn criticism from human rights organizations.
Ukrainians are in the country under separate temporary protection programs, not under the asylum system. The government emphasizes that these programs also have an expiration date and do not guarantee automatic long-term residency.
The consequences of the reform may be as follows:
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greater uncertainty for applicants
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increased importance of employment and integration
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the need for legal assistance due to more complex procedures.
The British authorities emphasize that the goal of the reform is to strengthen control and adapt the system to modern migration flows.
Earlier, we reported that Britain simplified visa restrictions for Ukrainians.