Britain’s Labour Government Proposes Stricter Asylum Rules

Proposed legislation would extend the waiting period for permanent residency to twenty years

The new bill, unveiled by the Labour administration, seeks to overhaul the existing asylum framework. If passed, people who receive refugee status would have to endure a twenty‑year residency wait before they become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain, up from the current five‑year threshold.

Government officials argue that the measure is intended to ensure the integrity of the immigration system and to discourage “chain migration.” They claim the longer interval will give authorities more time to verify claims and monitor integration progress.

Opposition parties and refugee‑rights groups have condemned the proposal as “unfair” and “disproportionate,” warning that it could push vulnerable individuals into prolonged uncertainty and limit their ability to rebuild their lives in the UK.

Parliament is expected to debate the bill in the coming weeks, with amendments likely to focus on the humanitarian impact of such a drastic extension.