UK plans up to 20 year wait for refugees before permanent residency

Refugees could face a decade longer than migrants

The UK government is considering tougher migration rules that would double the standard waiting period for permanent residency to 10 years, and extend it to 20 years for refugees. The stated goal is to deter irregular migration, but critics warn it could place the UK among the most restrictive high-income democracies, with potentially unprecedented delays for people seeking protection.