What impact could this have
In February 2025, the UK government changed the rules for applying to become a British citizen. Under the new guidance, people who reached the UK through dangerous journeys—crossing seas, hiding in lorries, fleeing war—may now be permanently barred from citizenship. The Government has also made it harder for those who are still eligible to apply to become a British Citizen by increasing the residency period before application from 5 to 10 years, as well as tightening English language requirements.
Why has the Government made these changes now?
The Government is making these changes as it is under pressure from all sides – the public, members of its own party, Reform UK and other political parties – to be seen to be taking action to stem the arrival of refugees arriving via dangerous routes, notably small boats across the English Channel.
The government argues these changes will strengthen border security, but critics say they disproportionately affect vulnerable individuals and, in effect, make it almost impossible for people who arrive through irregular routes to ever become UK citizens.
These changes don’t just rewrite policy. They rewrite futures. They tell people who risk everything to find safety in the UK, they will never truly belong.
How will these changes affect refugees and asylum seekers?
These changes to the UK citizenship policy will have a significant impact on refugees and asylum seekers, particularly those who entered the UK through irregular or unsafe routes.
- Refugees who arrived in the UK without entry clearance or through dangerous journeys will normally be refused British citizenship. This applies regardless of how long they have lived in the UK or whether they have since obtained legal status.
- The UK is a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which states that refugees should not be penalised for irregular entry. However, the new policy removes previous exceptions that allowed refugees to apply for citizenship regardless of how they arrived in the UK.
- Citizenship provides security, rights, and full integration into society. By denying refugees the ability to naturalise, the government is effectively excluding them from full participation in British life.
- Many organisations argue that these changes punish vulnerable individuals who have no legal means of entry and disproportionately affect asylum seekers fleeing persecution.
Tens of thousands of refugees will now be banned from ever becoming British citizens. These people – many of whom have lived here for years, or even decades – have all been granted protection in the UK because of conflict and instability in their home countries. With no safe pathways available, they were forced to take irregular journeys to this country. Now, they face the potential of being permanently excluded from accessing their full rights and forced to remain in a second-class status.
What legal options do refugees have now?
Refugees affected by the UK’s February 2025 citizenship policy changes still have some legal avenues to explore:
- Judicial Review & Legal Challenges: Some refugees are already challenging the new rules in court, arguing that they violate the 1951 Refugee Convention and human rights laws. A legal case has been filed by an Afghan refugee who arrived in the UK as a child and now faces citizenship refusal despite meeting previous good character requirements.2.3
- Alternative Immigration Routes: Refugees who cannot apply for citizenship may still seek indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which grants long-term residency and work rights. While ILR does not provide full citizenship benefits, it offers stability and protection.
- Exceptional Circumstances Applications: The Home Office has stated that compelling humanitarian cases may still be considered. Refugees with strong ties to the UK, such as long-term residence, family connections, or contributions to society, may have a chance to appeal citizenship refusals. However, the criteria remain vague, leaving many to fear being refused.
- Advocacy & Legal Support: Organisations like ‘Right to Remain’ and immigration law firms are actively supporting refugees, helping them understand their rights, challenging unfair decisions, and navigating a system that’s grown more complex and unforgiving.4
How do the changes in the UK compare to other countries’ citizenship policies?
The UK’s new rules are among the harshest in the Western world. They deny citizenship to people who arrived without permission—no matter how long ago, or why. Critics say this violates the 1951 Refugee Convention and undermines the UK’s reputation as a place of refuge.
How have citizenship policies in the UK changed over the years?
Citizenship in the UK has never been just about paperwork—it’s about who gets to belong. But over the decades, the rules have shifted dramatically, with the opportunity to become a British Citizen, consistently declining. In the period since 1948, we have moved from a system where there were no formal citizenship laws to one where there is a ban on citizenship for anyone who entered illegally, regardless of age, time passed, or reason for entry.2.4.
The human side to these Citizenship changes
What impact will this have on refugees renting a place to live?
Lack of citizenship may limit access to housing support or public funds, affecting affordability. Landlords may be reluctant to rent long term housing to those who only have limited leave to remain or other temporary statuses. They may perceive such refugees to be higher-risk tenants and even if willing to rent, they may demand higher deposits. This may even be the case where the refugees are legally allowed to work and rent in the UK.
What impact will this have on refugees legally allowed to work in the UK?
The UK Government’s 2025 changes to citizenship rules—specifically the tightening of the Good Character requirement—do not directly affect refugees’ legal right to work, but they do have serious indirect consequences that could impact employment opportunities and long-term stability. Refugees who entered the UK irregularly, and who remain on limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain, may be barred from certain public sector, professional or security-cleared roles. Employers may be less willing to hire refugees without citizenship due to perceived instability or misunderstanding of their legal status. This could lead to informal discrimination on refugees’ ability to travel?
Obviously, the tightening of citizenship status will have an adverse impact on refugees’ ability to obtain a UK passport. For those individuals who have been granted refugee status they can access a travel document which allows then to travel internationally and return to their country of residence, which, in this case, will be the UK. The refugee travel document is issued by the Home Office, allows international travel to most countries (but not the refugee’s home country), and prevents the holder from being returned to their home country against their will.
However, for those who have not been granted refugee status they are prohibited from travel at all outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and if they do so the Home Office will treat their asylum claim as withdrawn. In addition, any asylum support such as accommodation and payments would be withdrawn permanently, and refugees could be prosecuted for illegal entry to the UK if they try to return. In essence refuges without status have to stay in the UK until such time as their application for asylum is granted before they can travel outside the UK.
Without citizenship and a passport, a refugees status is precarious and they may also have children born in the UK who will have more rights than their parents.
What impact could this have on the mental and emotional well-being of refugees?
Refugees who arrived via irregular routes are now barred from applying for British citizenship, even after years of lawful residence. Citizenship is more than a legal status—it’s a symbol of acceptance, stability, and belonging.
The uncertainty and exclusion from full civic participation can affect refugees’ confidence, mental health, and ability to pursue long-term career goals. Many may feel relegated to a “second-class” status, despite contributing to society.
Being denied this has left many feeling permanently excluded from British society (source 1, source 2).
The uncertainty surrounding their future has led to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, especially among young refugees who had built their lives in the UK.7
A Mental Health Foundation report highlights that many refugees already face trauma from war, persecution, and dangerous journeys—and these policy changes risk re-traumatizing them.
With citizenship applications costing £1,630 and no right of appeal if refused, many refugees are now too afraid or discouraged to apply, fearing rejection and financial loss.
End note
By denying tens of thousands of people the ability to obtain citizenship, this policy threatens to deepen the dangerous ‘us versus them’ rhetoric that was on full display during the riots of summer 2024.We cannot let this divide grow further. Refugees must be given the opportunity to integrate fully, with the dignity, security, and rights that citizenship provides.
