Key takeaways UK Asylum System March 2026

On the 2 March, the home secretary, made a statement in parliament outlining changes to the UK immigration system effecting the UK asylum system.  Andre Minnaar, head of our Immigration team explains the key points.

30 month period of protection for new claims: New asylum claims made from 2 March 2026 will be granted a 30 month period of protection if successful, as opposed to five years, providing a more structured timeline for applicants.

Transitional provisions for pending cases: A transitional period will be implemented to address pending cases, so that existing rules continue to apply, which means that anyone that had already registered their asylum claim by 2 March will be granted five years leave to remain if their claim is successful, as opposed to 30 months.

Extended period of 20 years:  A core protection model will be introduced this week which means certain refugees will need to complete an extended period of 20 years, in the UK, as opposed to existing five year period, before they can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain).

Asylum-seeking children:  Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children will continue to be granted five years leave to remain if their claims are successful, even if their claims were registered on or after 2 March 2026.

Although these changes bring clarity for those seeking asylum, the position for existing refugees who have been granted five years leave to remain, but have not yet reached the point of applying for settlement still remains somewhat uncertain.

Get in touch

If you’re concerned about how these changes might affect you, please reach out to our team today. We are here to discuss your options and ensure the success of your application.