London: Britain announced on Saturday that it will launch the largest overhaul of its asylum policy in modern times. The British Home Office, headed by Shabana Mahmood, stated that as part of the changes, the legal obligation to provide support to some asylum seekers, including housing and weekly allowances, will no longer be offered.

According to Qatar News Agency, this measure will apply to asylum seekers who are able to work but choose not to, and to those who break the law. Priority in receiving taxpayer-funded support will be given to those who contribute to the economy and local communities. Additionally, the period that beneficiaries of refugee status are entitled to spend in the country will be reduced to 30 months instead of the current five years.

Currently, beneficiaries of refugee status are entitled to remain in Britain for five years, after which they can apply to remain in the country indefinitely and then apply for citizenship. The Home Office mentioned that this margin of protection would be subject to regular review, and that refugees would be compelled to return to their countries once they were deemed safe. Furthermore, those granted refugee status would face a waiting period of 20 years before they are allowed to apply for long-term residence in the United Kingdom, instead of the current five-year period.

Shabana Mahmood is expected to provide further details on Monday about these measures, which the Home Office said aim at making Britain less attractive to irregular migrants and facilitating their removal. Opinion polls indicate that immigration has surpassed the economy as the biggest concern for British voters.

Around 109,343 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year ending March 2025, an increase of 17% from the previous year, and 6% above the peak recorded in 2002 of 103,081 asylum applications.