Tens of thousands of bogus asylum seekers lured to UK by 'one of most' generous benefits and protection packages in western Europe admits Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood

TENS of thousands of false asylum claims have been made in the UK each year, the Government has today admitted.

Bogus asylum seekers have been lured to our shores by one of the most generous offers to refugees in any country in Western Europe, including permanent access to benefits, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said today, March 2 2026.

She made the admissions as she announced sweeping changes that are hoped with prevent people making the hazardous illegal Channel croissings in small boats.

Refugee status will become temporary and subject to review every 30 months for all adults claiming asylum from today, the Home Secretary announced. 

Protection will be renewed for all those refugees who still face danger in their home country.

Those whose country has now become safe, and therefore no longer require protection, will be expected to return home. 

The change follows Ms Mahmood’s visit to Denmark last week, which introduced a similar approach in recent years. The Danes have reduced asylum claims by more than 90 percent in a decade. 

Last November, as part of the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration since the Second World War, the government announced that refugee protection would become temporary. At the same time, refugees who wish to stay in Britain and have skills will be able to apply for new work and study visas, helping them integrate with and contribute to society.  

Britain will also open new, safe and legal routes, with community sponsorship becoming the new norm. The entire approach is designed to shift the asylum system in Britain away from dangerous, illegal crossings, and high levels of applications from those without legitimate asylum claims.   

Under these changes, adults and accompanied children claiming asylum from tomorrow will receive a 30-month period of protection, if granted. At a 30-month review, refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those whose countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return home.

Under the previous system, refugees were granted five years of protection and allowed to bring their families –followed by near-automatic, fee-free permanent settlement with continued access to benefits and housing. This was amongst the most generous offers to refugees in any country in Western Europe. The Home Secretary has argued this has become a pull-factor that has seen asylum claims in Britain rise steeply, including tens of thousands of illegitimate claims each year, as they fall across the rest of the continent.  

Refugees under the reformed system will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a legal visa route. Family reunion remains paused while new rules are designed that bring financial and integration requirements in line with those expected of British citizens. 

The reset in Britain’s asylum offer, inspired by Denmark’s success, will encourage those wishing to build a life in the UK to do so via legal routes and reduce the pull factors driving illegal migration. The first step towards a new, ‘core protection’ system will be introduced through a change to the Immigration Rules later this week. 

Ms Mahmood said: “This country will always provide sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution. But we must also ensure our asylum system is not creating pull factors that draw people on dangerous journeys across the world, fuelling and funding the human traffickers."