Immigration News Weekly Roundup – 21 November 2025
The UK Government has unveiled its most significant overhaul of the Immigration and asylum system, through a comprehensive policy document. The reforms mark a fundamental transition in how the nation approaches refugee protection, moving away from a model based on permanent settlement towards one centred on temporary provision. For legal advisors working with asylum seekers and refugees, understanding these changes will be essential as the Government moves forward with implementation.
The Government’s central argument underpinning the reforms is that the current asylum framework was not designed to handle modern migration patterns. Officials point to rising asylum applications in the UK, whilst numbers have fallen across Europe, attributing this disparity to the comparative generosity of British protection offers. The stated dual objectives are to reduce illegal arrivals and increase removals of those without legal status to remain.
One of the most consequential changes concerns the duration of initial refugee leave. Currently, individuals granted refugee status receive a five-year period of protection, which then converts almost automatically to indefinite settled status. This will alter significantly under the new regime. Refugees will now receive only thirty months of leave to remain, renewable solely if they continue to require protection. Once protection is no longer deemed necessary, individuals become liable for removal. The pathway to permanent settlement has been extended dramatically, moving from the current five-year mark to twenty years of continuous residence in the UK.
To incentivise integration and employment, the Government proposes introducing a Protection Work and Study visa route exclusively for refugees. Those securing employment or undertaking study at an appropriate level will be able to transition onto this route, which offers an accelerated path to settlement compared to the standard core protection route. This mechanism is designed to reduce long-term reliance on welfare support and encourage contribution to local communities.
Family reunion provisions are being significantly restricted. Under core protection, refugees will no longer have an automatic right to bring family members to the UK. Only those who transition onto the Work and Study route may subsequently sponsor relatives, and even then, they will be subject to conditions matching those applicable to other migrants and UK citizens. The Home Secretary characterised family reunion under core protection as possible only in the most exceptional circumstances.
The reforms also fundamentally reshape the Government’s obligation to support asylum seekers financially. The statutory duty to provide asylum support, established in 2005 under EU legislation, will be repealed and replaced with discretionary powers. This means support will be reserved for those deemed genuinely in need and compliant with UK law. Asylum seekers with the right to work will be expected to become self-sufficient, whilst those who have deliberately rendered themselves destitute may be denied assistance. Support can be withdrawn from individuals who breach the law or refuse to comply with accommodation requirements, including relocation orders or disruptive behaviour in housing facilities. The Government positions this approach as comparable to systems operating in Denmark, the Netherlands, and France.
Turning to removals, the Government intends to pursue a tougher stance on failed asylum claims. Whilst the principle of non-refoulement remains, the policy outlines plan to expand the French returns pilot for small-boat arrivals and resume returns to specified countries, including Syria. The Government is also exploring safe third-country return hubs. To encourage compliance, bilateral agreements will be negotiated with countries of origin, with visa penalties available as a sanction against nations failing to accept their nationals.
Appeals procedures are set to undergo substantial reform aimed at expediting decisions. A new independent appeals body, staffed with professionally trained adjudicators, will be established to handle relevant matters within a single appeal process. This aims to eliminate the repeated and late claims that currently frustrate removals. Early legal representation will be provided to prevent procedural delays. Cases deemed low merit or designed to frustrate removal will be fast-tracked. Significantly, appellants will be afforded one opportunity to claim and one to appeal, ending what officials describe as the circular nature of repeated claims and appeals.
The policy addresses what the Government characterises as abuse of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The courts’ increasingly expansive interpretation of the right to family life has, the Government argues, prevented removal of individuals who might otherwise have no entitlement to remain. To narrow this right, the Government intends to define family narrowly, typically to immediate members only, and redefine the public interest test to make removal or refusal the default position unless Article 8 rights apply in truly exceptional circumstances. Additionally, only individuals physically present in the UK will be able to lodge Article 8 claims, with all such claims heard first by the Home Office rather than courts.
On Article 3, concerning torture and inhuman treatment, the Government intends to pursue international reform. Whilst maintaining that the UK will never return individuals to face torture, officials contend that interpretations of degrading treatment have become unreasonably expansive, preventing removal of foreign national offenders on the basis of inadequate prison conditions or mental health provision in home countries. The Government will seek reform at the Council of Europe level.
Modern slavery protections are also being tightened. The Government indicates that well-intentioned protections designed to safeguard victims are being misused by individuals seeking to frustrate removal. Legislation will be introduced to strengthen these safeguards, including ending reconsiderations for certain countries and improving early disclosure of information.
Accompanying these restrictive measures, the Government has committed to opening new safe and legal resettlement routes prioritising refugee sponsorship, with voluntary and community organisations playing a greater role. Capped routes will be established for displaced students and skilled workers. Those arriving through reformed resettlement routes will be on a ten-year pathway to settlement, though this remains subject to consultation.
These reforms require primary legislation and Parliamentary approval. Early reactions suggest resistance from Labour backbenchers, though the opposition has indicated likely support for many measures. Humanitarian organisations have been vocal in their opposition, with several NGOs condemning the proposals as fundamentally undermining post-World War II principles of refugee protection.
For legal advisors, these developments demand careful monitoring as provisions move through Parliament and implementation guidance emerges. The changes will substantially alter case management and client advice across asylum, family reunion, and settlement matters.
The Government’s sweeping asylum reforms will undoubtedly trigger a cascade of further guidance and procedural instructions in the coming months, leaving practitioners navigating unfamiliar territory.
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For the full list of updates on media news, reports and Home Office Guidance and Policy updates, see HERE
Immigration News
Shabana Mahmood accused of ‘ethnic stereotyping’ by Albania’s PM – The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood has been accused of “ethnic stereotyping” and “indecent demagoguery” by Albania’s Prime Minister after the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families and children for refusing to return to their homeland. Edi Rama, the Socialist party leader, has questioned why a Labour politician can “so poorly echo the rhetoric of the populist far-right” after Mahmood’s officials singled out 700 Albanian families for deportation. For full report, click here
Mahmood faces calls for compassion and clarity over hardline asylum policies – The Guardian
Shabana Mahmood is facing demands for compassion and clarity after it emerged that only a “few hundred” asylum seekers would initially be permitted to come to the UK under three new schemes for refugees. The Home Secretary had justified a series of hardline policies, such as the deportation of families and the confiscation of assets from claimants by saying she would work with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to open “safe and legal” routes for “genuine” claimants. For full report, click here
Asylum changes seek to use children as a weapon– The Guardian
The Home Secretary is seeking “to use children as a weapon” in her changes to the asylum system, a veteran Labour peer who came to Britain as a child refugee has said. Alf Dubs, who arrived in the UK aged six in 1939 fleeing the persecution of Jews in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, described Shabana Mahmood’s proposals as “a shabby thing”. For full report, click here
Ireland to act if tougher asylum rules create Belfast back door for migration – The Guardian
Attempts to toughen up asylum rules in the UK could have significant implications for relations with Ireland, Dublin’s justice minister has said, amid concerns that this could increase migration flows to Ireland. More than 80% of people who use irregular routes to Ireland originate from Great Britain, travelling to Belfast by plane or boat and then by road to Dublin to make asylum claims, the justice department has said. For full report, click here
Starmer facing fresh challenge as Labour MPs condemn asylum plans – The Guardian
Keir Starmer is facing another major challenge to his authority, as angry Labour MPs vowed to force changes to new hardline migration measures that would bring an escalation in the deportations of children and families. The policies which include the possibility of confiscating assets from asylum seekers to contribute to costs have caused significant divisions inside the party, with some MPs accusing their colleagues of not taking public anger about illegal migration and asylum seriously. For full report, click here
Anglican bishop shaken ‘to the core’ by Home Secretary’s asylum seeker comments – The Guardian
A Church of England Bishop has said Shabana Mahmood’s comments on asylum seekers have shaken him “to the core” and argued people coming to the UK are being “scapegoated” for years of government policy failures. Mahmood is expected to announce measures under which people’s refugee status would be reviewed every two and a half years and their wait for permanent settlement could be extended to 20 years. It also understood that people granted asylum could be returned if their country is deemed safe. For full report, click here
What changes to the UK asylum system is Labour proposing? – The Guardian
The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, is planning sweeping changes to the asylum system with the warning that “dark forces are stirring up anger” over migration. It comes as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK attracts support because of the failure of successive Governments to stop unauthorised small boat crossings in the Channel and unease about the use of hotels to house asylum seekers. For full report, click here
Asylum seekers’ jewellery could be seized to pay for processing costs, says Home Office minister – The Guardian
Asylum seekers could have jewellery or other valuables taken to pay for the costs of processing their cases, a Home Office Minister has said, in another detail of changes to migration policy likely to cause concern among Labour MPs. Speaking to broadcasters before the formal announcement of sweeping changes to asylum policy on Monday, the Home Office minister Alex Norris said while this would not involve seizing wedding rings, jewellery without sentimental value could be taken. For full report, click here
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, Home Secretary says – The Guardian
Refugees who have established lives with homes and families in the UK, including Ukrainians will face having to return if their home countries become safe, the Home Secretary has said. Shabana Mahmood said the asylum system was “out of control and putting huge pressure on communities” as she announced plans to end the permanent status of refugees, who would need to reapply to remain in Britain every two and a half years. For full report, click here
‘Death by a thousand cuts’: the people who could face deportation under Reform – The Guardian
As Reform UK soars in the polls, Britain’s migrant communities are facing an uncertain future. The party has announced a swathe of hardline immigration policies, including its plans to abolish indefinite leave to remain – the right to settle permanently in the UK after five years of residence. For full report click here
Senior Manston asylum centre staff under investigation for misconduct – The Guardian
Two of the most senior staff running Manston, the controversial processing centre in Kent for small boat arrivals, have been suspended and are under investigation for misconduct, the Guardian has learned. Witnesses said they were escorted off the Kent site. The Home Office and its contractor, Mitie, which employ the two senior members of staff, have confirmed the suspensions and investigation but have not provided reasons. For full report, click here
UK charities condemn ‘immoral’ plans to force asylum seekers to volunteer – The Guardian
Hundreds of charities have said they will refuse to cooperate with “immoral” government plans to force refugees to undertake mandatory volunteering as a condition of being allowed to settle in the UK. The charities said that compelling refugees and asylum seekers to volunteer would be exploitative, bureaucratic and un-British, and would undermine a fundamental principle that volunteers give their time and skills freely. For full report, click here
Minister insists government committed to asylum reforms – BBC News UK
Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said the government is “absolutely committed” to pushing through major asylum reforms, despite a backlash from some Labour MPs. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced a series of changes, including forcing refugees to wait 20 years for permanent residency and deporting more families who have been rejected for asylum. For full report, click here
UK net migration 20% lower in 2024 than first thought, ONS says – BBC News UK
Net migration to the UK last year was 20% lower than previously thought, according to revised figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number, the difference between those entering and leaving the country, has been revised down by 86,000 people and now stands at 345,000 in 2024. For full report, click here
Scottish ministers ‘deeply concerned’ about new UK asylum plans – BBC News UK
The Scottish Government has said it is “deeply concerned” about proposed new asylum reforms which have been outlined by the home secretary. Under the plans, most asylum seekers will have to wait 20 years to apply to settle permanently, with deportations to be sped up when claims are rejected. For full report, click here
Counter-demonstrators bailed after protest disorder – BBC News UK
Four people arrested after police officers were assaulted during an anti-immigration protest and counter-demonstration have been released on bail. A crowd of 75 people calling themselves the Bristol Patriots staged a protest on Saturday afternoon outside Bristol’s Mercure hotel, which houses asylum seekers. For full report, click here
UK’s sweeping asylum law changes: How will they impact refugees? – Al Jazeera News
Shabana Mahmood, the United Kingdom’s home secretary, has said the country’s asylum system is “not working” and is placing “intense strain on communities” ahead of proposals for major government reforms that would end refugees’ automatic right to settle permanently in the UK. Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, Mahmood said undocumented migration is “tearing the country apart”. For full report, click here
Case Law
R (Shajna Begum) v Entry Clearance Officer JR-2024-LON-003343
The Upper Tribunal found the Entry Clearance Officer had failed to consider previous explanations about the applicant’s financial circumstances and family ties, breached the duty of candour by relying on vague assumptions, and misinterpreted her answer about dependents overlooking that she was the primary carer for two minor children. These procedural failures rendered the refusal unlawful. For full report, click here
Baparee, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 1464
The Court of Appeal allowed the appellant’s appeal, finding the Upper Tribunal erred in law by taking judicial notice that post offices do not open on Sundays—a crucial factual assertion made without evidence and at the hearing’s end, rather than being properly pleaded in advance. This procedural error was material, as it undermined the UT’s assessment of the appellant’s credibility and his explanation for the late claim. The matter has been remitted to the Upper Tribunal for reconsideration before a different judge. For full decision, click here
Nguyen v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWCA Civ 1452
The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, holding that Part 5A section 117C applies to applications to revoke deportation orders made from abroad, even after the applicant has already been deported. The court rejected the argument that section 117C only applies before deportation, emphasising that “deportation” encompasses the entire statutory regime, not just the act of removal. Consequently, the very compelling circumstances test must be applied to revocation cases, and the Immigration Rules cannot provide an alternative legal framework. For full decision, click here
Prestige Social Care Services Ltd (R on the application of) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 2860 (Admin)
The court confirmed that although the Home Office wrongly treated one post as a “non-genuine role”, the error did not affect the outcome: the sponsor’s persistent failings high staff turnover, a visa refusal signalling poor recruitment checks, and the appointment of a worker unable to perform core duties were each sufficient to justify revocation. Crucially, the judgment clarifies that dishonesty is required only where the Home Office relies on the specific “non-genuine role” examples in the guidance, not for every finding under that heading. Ultimately, the challenge failed, the revocation remained in place, and the sponsor may reapply only after demonstrating it has rectified the issues identified. For full report, click here
Home Office Guidance and Documents Policy Updates
Guidance: Apply for a British Overseas Territory or Commonwealth country visa has been updated on 19th November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: workers has been updated on 19th November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Register of licensed sponsors: students has been updated on 19th November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Brazil: country policy and information notes has been updated on 19 November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Using the ‘UK ETA’ app has been updated on 17th November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Guidance: Very Important Person (VIP) Delegate visa has been published on 14th November 2025. To view the Guidance, click here
Guidance: Diplomatic Visa Arrangement (DVA) has been published on 14th November 2025. To view the updated Guidance, click here
Written by Shareen Khan – Legal Content Writer, HJT Training
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Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration advisors should consult the full decisions and official policy documents when advising clients on specific cases.
