Britain plans to return refugees, including Ukrainians

Britain prepares new asylum rules: Ukrainians may be obliged to return after the war

Ukrainians who are in the UK under the status of asylum or temporary protection may be obliged to return home after the end of the war. This was stated by the Home Secretary Yasmin Mahmoud in an interview The Guardian.

The government is preparing a large-scale reform of the asylum system, which will revise the conditions of stay for all categories of refugees, including Ukrainians.

What exactly is changing

Mahmoud said that the new policy provides for a significant increase in control over who is entitled to stay in the country and for how long.

Refugee status does not automatically entitle you to permanent residence

People who have been granted asylum will now have to renew the permit every 2.5 years, and not automatically move to perpetual status.

Returning home according to the «Danish model»

If the country of origin is deemed safe, refugees return home, by offering financial incentives and social support. This also applies to Ukrainians after the war.

For illegal migrants - 20 years before permanent residence

People who arrived in the UK illegally will be able to apply for permanent residence only after 20 years of continuous residence.

Context.

The UK has hosted over 200,000 Ukrainians since the start of the full-scale war.
Previously, the government allowed them to stay for up to three years under the Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family Scheme.
Now, the government says that London's support for Ukraine remains unchanged, but that long-term migration policy needs to be «reformatted».