Adults and accompanied children who claim asylum from 2 March 2026 will receive 30 months of protection if granted, after which their status will be reviewed, the Home Secretary has announced.
Key facts
- Who: Adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from 2 March 2026; unaccompanied children are treated differently
- From: 2 March 2026
- Source: Refugee protection to be reviewed every 30 months (GOV.UK)
The government has announced that refugee status will become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum from 2 March 2026. Accompanied children claiming asylum from that date will also receive a 30-month period of protection, if it is granted.
Under the previous system, refugees were granted 5 years of protection and allowed to bring their families. That was followed by near-automatic, fee-free permanent settlement with continued access to benefits and housing.
At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need for protection will have it renewed. Those whose home countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return. Refugees under the reformed system will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a legal visa route.
The change is the first step towards a new "core protection" system. It will be introduced through a change to the Immigration Rules later in the week of the announcement. Under reforms announced last November, refugees will have to wait 20 years for settlement unless they switch to a legal visa route.
New routes will be created as an alternative to core protection for those who can contribute through work or study. Refugees who want to stay in Britain and have skills will be able to apply for new work and study visas. Further details will be set out in future Immigration Rules changes.
Family reunion remains paused while new rules are designed. These will bring financial and integration requirements in line with those expected of British citizens.
Unaccompanied children will continue to receive 5 years' leave while the government considers the appropriate long-term policy for this group. Further details will be set out in due course.
What this means for people claiming asylum and their families
- The 30-month period of protection applies to adults and accompanied children who claim asylum from 2 March 2026, if protection is granted.
- Under the previous system, protection lasted 5 years and was followed by near-automatic settlement. Under the new model, protection is reviewed at 30 months, and refugees will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a legal visa route.
- Family reunion remains paused while new rules are designed.
- Unaccompanied children continue to receive 5 years' leave for now.
- The detailed rules are to be set out through changes to the Immigration Rules, with further details of the new routes to follow.
Sources
- Refugee protection to be reviewed every 30 months, GOV.UK, 2 March 2026