UK Cuts Refugee Leave to 30 Months, Doubling Renewal Caseload

The UK government has halved the duration of refugee protection status from five years to 30 months, effective March 2026. The shift forces the Home Office to process roughly double the renewal applications within the same timeframe, straining case-working capacity that already faces a substantial backlog. The change narrows refugees' planning horizon for housing and employment while shortening their window to access public funds. Whether the department can absorb the surge without generating new delays remains uncertain.