Britain will no longer automatically grant permanent residence or family reunion rights to asylum seekers, the Labour government announced on Wednesday, unveiling its most sweeping immigration reform since taking office.

Migrants with refugee status currently qualify for settlement—also called indefinite leave to remain—after five years. Under the new rules, that path will be doubled to 10 years and subject to tougher tests including proof of work, tax contributions, English language skills, community service, and a clean criminal record.

The government said the move aims to end what it called an “unfair system” that allowed those crossing the Channel in small boats to gain faster and broader rights than people arriving legally. Refugees will still receive “core protections,” but settlement will no longer be guaranteed.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood told the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that migrants must “earn the right” to stay. “Time spent in this country alone is not enough,” she said, adding that settlement should reflect contribution, not automatic entitlement.

The changes also permanently abolish the right for refugees to automatically bring close family members to Britain—a policy suspended in September and now scrapped altogether.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the shift was needed to show that “there will be no golden ticket to settling in the UK.” The announcement comes as Starmer attends the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen, where illegal migration is high on the agenda.

The reforms are designed to blunt support for the populist Reform UK party and to address public anger over small boat arrivals, which have already exceeded 34,000 this year.

Rights groups criticised the plans, with the Refugee Council warning they could push more people “into the arms of smugglers” rather than deter crossings. But ministers insisted the measures would bring Britain “into line with Europe” and restore fairness to the asylum system.

Further details, including the exact criteria and timelines for settlement applications, will be set out later this autumn.

First Published: Oct 2, 2025 6:26 PM IST