The New Core Protection Approach
The statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, published on 5th March 2026, outlines a more restrictive set of rules for people who claimed asylum on or after 2nd March 2026.
Under the previous rules, people whose asylum claims were approve by the Home Office were granted 5 years of refugee status. At the end of this 5-year permission to stay, refugees were able to apply for settlement free of charge, and settle in the UK permanently. In explaining the changes, the Home Office described the previous approach as “generous compared to some of our European neighbours”.
The Home Office has now, introduced a revised system which it says meets its “international obligations but do[es] not exceed them”. As part of the new rules, individuals whose asylum claims are successful will receive 30 months’ permission to stay to remain on a protection route.
This applies to all claims submitted on or after the 2nd March 2026, unless the asylum applicant is an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child. The 30-months permission to stay can be renewed before the expiry at which point the Home Office will assess whether protection is still required, , largely depending on the situation of the country the refugee is seeking protection from. If the Home Office determines that conditions have improved sufficiently and the individual no longer requires protection, their permission to stay may not be extended which will result in them having to explore different options to remain lawfully in the UK (if any) or make arrangements to leave. .
Parallel to these changes, the Home Office has announced policy proposals under the ‘Earned Settlement’ model which, if implemented, may mean that refugees will have to complete at least 20 years of lawful residence in the UK before being able to settle. For many people, the proposed changes could mean waiting even longer before they are able to qualify.
The Challenges
As an organisation which has been supporting people who migrate daily for the past 26 years, RMC is well placed to anticipate the significant challenges arising from this new system.
Firstly, under these proposals, refugees will be expected to renew their limited stay in the UK for a minimum of eight times, over a period of at least 20 years. In reality, many individuals may need to remain for even longer before becoming eligible for settlement. RMC’s experience of supporting people on a 10-year route to settlement shows that extended periods of limited leave can create significant challenges for individuals and families, leaving them facing years of uncertainty about their future. Recent reports have also linked these routes to poverty.
Reapplying means repeatedly gathering documents, completing applications, and seeking legal advice and support, always with a risk of a deadline being missed which could result in people being left without lawful stay. Over time, this can place emotional and practical pressure on families and increase demand on support services.
Applicants will also be required to repeatedly demonstrate that they are still facing risks, and need protection. This will mean repeated reassessment of the refugee’s circumstances, which could have negative impact on the individuals. Most asylum seekers, arrive in the UK having experienced significant trauma resulting from conflict, persecution, loss of family members, dangerous journeys. The asylum process itself can also be emotionally challenging, often requiring individuals to recount painful experiences in detail during lengthy interviews and evidential assessments. Requiring applicants to go through this process every two years and a half, will create additional emotional strain, preventing asylum seekers from ever establishing stability, feeling secure, and rebuilding their lives.
Concerns over these proposals have been raised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR), the authoritative international body on refugees, who stresses that ‘such a change would place additional administrative and costly burdens on the asylum system, create greater uncertainty for refugees and negatively affect integration and social cohesion’ while also reiterating its position that ‘refugees and others in need of international protection are provided with a secure and stable protection status that is not subject to constant review’.
The new 30 months renewal system bears similarities to the existing parent or partner routes, with which RMC has extensive experience. Through our work, we have developed an understanding of the difficulties many individuals face during the renewal process. Due to the existing backlogs, the current processing times for similar applications is approximately 12 months. These are 12 months in which applicants are left uncertain about their future, 12 months in which they cannot travel, even for urgent family emergencies, and 12 months in which they may face difficulties maintaining employment or accessing support. While application made on time are covered by Section 3C, which extends the conditions of their previous leave until a decision is made, this provision is not always fully understood by employers. Because employers face serious penalties for employing someone without the right to work, many are reluctant to continue employing people whose status is covered by Section 3C leave. Therefore, under the new rules, refugees could face repeated periods where their right to work is questioned, affecting their financial stability every 30 months.
Although the new system has been presented as a means of encouraging refugees “to work and contribute to the UK”, it may have the opposite effect. Requiring people to repeatedly demonstrate and renew their right to remain and work in the UK could create barriers to employment and financial instability, making it harder for them to build their lives and contribute over the long term.
It is also anticipated that the introduction of this process will create an additional administrative burden for the Home Office. This may further increase existing delays, despite previous commitments to reduce processing times and improve efficiency.
Conclusion
While the Home Office has stated that these changes are intended to create a system that meets international obligations without exceeding them, some may view this approach as providing only the minimum level of protection required rather than demonstrating a broader commitment to helping refugees rebuild their lives. There are also serious concerns about the long-term impact this approach may have on refugees and the wider immigration system.
A successful protection system should provide not only safety from persecution, but also stability, certainty and a genuine opportunity for individuals to rebuild their lives. Requiring refugees to repeatedly prove their need for protection over potentially decades risks creating ongoing uncertainty and may hinder integration, employment opportunities and emotional recovery.
Based on our experience, we anticipate that these changes may place additional pressure not only on those seeking protection, but also on employers, support organisations and the Home Office itself.
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