Explained: What changes is Britain making in its refuge policy and how it might affect foreign nationals?

New Delhi: In one of the biggest overhauls to the country’s asylum system, Britain is making massive changes in this regard. These reportedly include making refugee status temporary and increasing the wait for permanent settlement to 20 years. The Labour government says these changes are being made to tackle a "broken" system which has become unpopular with the country’s people.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood outlined these measures, saying, "We have a system that is out of control." She further added that, "It's unfair, and it's putting huge pressure on communities. It is important that we restore order and control to this system, so that we can retain public permission and public confidence in having an asylum system at all."

According to the new reforms, the "automatic path" to settlement after five years currently existing in the UK will end. Now the refugee status is expected to be reviewed every two-and-a-half years during a new 20-year timeline before applicants can seek permanent settlement. The UK Home Secretary said that the shift would overturn a "generations-old assumption" that sanctuary quickly leads to settled status "and all of the rights that go alongside that."

According to the new legislation expected to come in, those arriving through legal routes will also face longer settlement waits, that would reportedly be 10 years instead of the pre-existing five. The government is also looking to remove housing and weekly financial support from people who have the right to work and can support themselves but "choose not to." In regard to this, the Home SecretaryMahmood said, "It is not fair if British citizens and long-term residents in this country have to follow one set of rules and comply, and another group of people - who also have the right to work - get away with not complying."

The policy is being said to be hugely inspired from the one in a place in Denmark which has one of Europe's strictest asylum policies. The UK now though can have the longest settlement process in Europe, surpassing even Denmark in this regard.

Many new changes are expected to come in with the new set of legislations. Refugees in Britain are currently given protection for five years after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and this also offers a pathway to British citizenship. Now under the proposed change, it is expected that people arriving illegally would have to wait 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement.

The five-year protection period is thus expected to be cut to 30 months. Regular reviews on whether protection is still needed would be brought about and refugee status could be revoked if a country is believed to be safe.

The statutory legal duty of the state to provide asylum-seeker support, which often include housing and allowances, are also expected to be revoked. The government has also announced it will seek to remove asylum support for those who have a right to work and who can support themselves. Further those who do not align with the county’s law and order system could also see their state support taken away. Benefits thus would be prioritised for those making a contribution to the UK economy.