Refugees, Core Protection and illegal entry
Updated 2 November 2026
The government says protection and permanent settlement are different. Refugees will keep protection where they need it, but how they came to the UK, how they have contributed and whether they have complied with the rules all affect the pathway to settlement.
The pathways
| Pathway | Who | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Safe and Legal routes | UK Resettlement Scheme and other designated resettlement or sponsorship routes | 5 years |
| Protection Work and Study | Granted protection in the UK and in sustained work, education or training | 10 years on that route |
| Core Protection | Granted protection in the UK and not in sustained work, education or training | 20 years |
Illegal entry adds 10 years
Anyone who enters the UK illegally, including by small boat, will ordinarily face an additional 10 years before becoming eligible, whichever route they seek to settle on. That makes the pathway 20 years on Protection Work and Study and 30 years on Core Protection. Of those who claimed asylum between 2021 and 2025, the government says 58% arrived by illegal entry routes.
The additional period does not apply where Article 31 of the Refugee Convention protects the individual. Further detail on how this operates will be published before implementation.
Requirements
- B2 English for Core Protection and Protection Work and Study. A2 for UK Resettlement Scheme refugees.
- The Life in the UK test, with UK Resettlement Scheme refugees exempt until a suitable version exists.
- Those claiming asylum in the UK generally must not have claimed public funds in the five years before settlement to use a pathway shorter than 20 years. Safe and Legal route refugees are exempt.
- Any asylum support that must be repaid must be repaid in full or covered by an agreed plan.
- Those working need at least £12,571 in three qualifying years, with "best years" flexibility.
Existing refugees
Refugees who claimed asylum before 2 March 2026 move to Core Protection and time with refugee status counts. For people granted protection before Protection Work and Study exists, the government will set out whether and how time already in the UK applies.
Source: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government Response to the Consultation (CP 1707), November 2026, chapter 7.
General information only. This is not immigration advice and is not affiliated with the Home Office or GOV.UK. Rules may change and guidance is still to come. For advice on your own case, speak to an OISC-regulated adviser or a solicitor.
More guides
- Earned settlement explained: the UK's new settlement rulesThe 3, 5, 10 and 20-year pathways and the mandatory requirements
- Earnings thresholds and the "best years" ruleThresholds, best years, household income and exemptions
- Which visa time counts towards settlementCounting routes, non-counting routes and the end of Long Residence
- Care workers and the transitional arrangementsThe one-off 5-year route, second chance and sponsor protections