Policy briefing
Core protection explained: What the Immigration and Asylum Bill could mean for refugees
The Government's new Immigration and Asylum Bill and 'core protection' explained
In short: The Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 is a proposed UK law that would change how people seeking safety in the UK are protected. It would replace the current types of protection with one new status, called ‘core protection’. People given this status would need to have it reviewed every 30 months and may have to wait up to 30 years before being allowed to stay permanently.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is concerned this will leave refugees living with fear and uncertainty, and make it harder for them to rebuild their lives.
What is the Immigration and Asylum Bill?
The UK Government is planning to tighten the asylum system with the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026. A key part of this Bill is changing the protections given to people who seek safety in the UK.
What are the current types of protection?
At the moment, people who flee danger and persecution and are given protection in the UK usually receive one of two types of status:
- Refugee status is for people who have fled persecution, for example because of their religion, politics or ethnicity.
- Humanitarian protection is for people who aren’t classed as refugees but would face serious harm if they returned home, for example, because they come from a war zone.
The Bill would replace both with a single status.
How would core protection work?
The Government’s plan is to replace these two types of protection with one new status. This is called ‘core protection’.
But this isn’t just a change of name. Anyone given this status would have it reviewed every 30 months (two and a half years) to check whether they still need protection. They may not be able to settle permanently in the UK for up to 30 years.
How will core protection affect refugees’ lives?
We all thrive when there is stability, certainty and hope for the future. For refugees, having their status reviewed so frequently creates a lot of unnecessary fear and anxiety that makes everyday life harder. How can they learn English or train for employment when they don’t know if they are going to be allowed to stay in the UK? And how can employers and communities benefit from a refugee’s skills when no one knows for sure how long they’ll be allowed to stay here?
What about refugees who want to study or build a career in the UK?
The Government has said that it will create ‘pathways’ for work and study that refugees could pay for. These would include shorter routes to being allowed to stay permanently. But the details are very unclear. For example, how much would these routes cost? Many refugees use up much of their money and resources trying to reach safety. In our experience, most refugees want to work, but they need support to overcome barriers such as learning English and navigating UK systems. And for those who can’t work or study, what support can they access?
Can refugees bring their families to the UK?
The Government used to allow some refugees to be reunited with their close family in the UK. It suspended this in 2025.
Being separated from family is incredibly hard. It can cause severe anxiety, guilt and sleeping difficulties, and make it harder to recover from trauma. The refugees we support tell us that worrying about parents, children or siblings who are still in danger makes it hard to focus on building a life in the UK. Many are also supporting family overseas while trying to establish themselves here. We have seen people feeling complete despair when they realise they cannot be reunited with their immediate family.
When will the Bill become law?
As of autumn 2026, the Bill is being debated, reviewed and amended by Parliament. If it passes and becomes law, the Government will then need to put the changes into practice through further regulations and updated Home Office guidance. This means that refugees may be living with further uncertainty for longer.
Don’t put protection on hold.
People who have fled conflict and persecution should have the chance to rebuild their lives, not put them on hold.
“Refugees want to learn English, train, work and contribute to their communities. Certainty about their future helps them do that, and everyone benefits. Prolonged uncertainty undermines integration and the strong, connected communities the Government says it wants to build,” - Flora Alexander, Executive Director of IRC UK.
The IRC is concerned that the new ‘core protection’ status, the long route to settlement and the continued separation of families will leave people who fled war and persecution unsure of their future in the UK and unsure whether they will see their families again. That makes it much harder for them to recover and rebuild their lives.
The Government should design policies that help refugees settle and integrate into life in the UK. That builds a stronger society that everyone can take part in and benefit from.
Casey told us she felt lost when she first came to the UK. With support from the IRC UK's employment team and The Pret Foundation, a work placement led to a permanent job and a greater sense of stability. “I enjoy putting a smile on the customers' faces” she told us.
How does the IRC support refugees?
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Our work ranges from emergency response in crisis-affected countries such as Sudan to supporting refugees in the US, Europe and here in the UK.
In the UK, our services include providing employment support to help refugees find meaningful work. We also train local community sponsorship groups. These are volunteer groups across the UK who support refugee families from the day they arrive until they are self-sufficient.
