Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN): An end to the right to sanctuary, and a stop to integration?

An end to the right to sanctuary, and a stop to integration?

In November 2025, the Home Secretary announced a swathe of new policies regarding claims for asylum and applications for settlement.

There is still a great deal of detail to be clarified, but this is some of what we know so far.

The proposals for refugees

Now: If your asylum claim is accepted, you are given 5 years leave to remain as a refugee.

Proposed: You will receive 30 months (2.5 years) leave to remain (called core protection). Every 2.5 years, you will have to apply for more leave. Each time, the government will decide whether it is safe to return to your original country. You will be expected to pay a fee for each visa renewal, including the Immigration Health Surcharge, unless you can prove that you qualify for a fee waiver.

Now: After 5 years with refugee status, you can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain, ILR). This gives you the right to live, work, study in the UK without a time limit. After one further year, you can apply for citizenship.

Proposed: You will have to live in the UK for 20 years before you can apply for settlement. There will be mandatory requirements which are not yet clear. (But see below for mandatory requirements for settlement for people in other categories.) The government has not stated what the requirements for citizenship will be. However, since 10th February 2025, citizenship applicants can be refused for irregular arrival in the past, as this is deemed to display “bad character”.

Now: As a refugee, you remain on the route to settlement and citizenship without a separate visa.

Proposed: You will be encouraged to move off core protection if you get a job or start studying. You can apply for a new Protection Work and Study visa inside the UK. You have to pay a fee to switch to this route, which may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain sooner than if you stay on core protection

According to the government document, “those who move from core protection on to the new core protection work and study routes will be able to earn reductions.” However, this change might incur penalties because of claiming top-up benefits, so people may be put off if benefits penalties would take them over 20 years. (See below, on Increasing the Qualifying Period). It is very unclear.

Now: You can no longer apply for Refugee Family Reunion (which was stopped in September 2025) but you can apply using family visa rules.

Proposed: There is no automatic right of Family Reunion. You may only apply for your family to join you if you move to the Work and Study route and if you meet the complex requirements (which have not yet been clarified).

Read more on the 4-page document below which can be downloaded: