UK immigration reforms and the health of older asylum seekers and refugees

An estimated 4% of the world’s 36 million refugees are aged 60 and older (UNHCR, 2021). As global populations age and displacement increases, this proportion is likely to rise. Older refugees and asylum seekers face intersecting challenges, including acculturative stress, social isolation, and poor mental and physical health (Ciobanu et al., 2017). The accumulation of these experiences may accelerate biological and social aging compared with nonrefugee populations (Hunter & Böcker, 2023). Yet, because of a focus on labor-market participation, relatively small numbers, and limited research, older refugees and asylum seekers are often invisible in immigration policy. As governments increasingly pursue stricter migration controls, this population risks further marginalization. Reflecting this global trend, the UK asylum system is undergoing a major restructuring that has significant implications not only for migration governance but also for public health and aging. The UK asylum system is undergoing a major restructuring that has significant implications not only for migration governance but also for public health and aging. In November 2025, the UK’s government unveiled plans to “restore order and control” through a range of immigration reforms (Mahmood, 2025). The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 marked the first phase of the reforms, focusing on border security and enforcement (Home Office, 2025). The subsequent Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 extends this agenda by proposing significant changes to refugee protection, settlement, asylum support, and family reunion (Mahmood, 2026). Collectively, these reforms seek to make refugee protection more temporary by extending the pathway to settlement, tightening access to asylum support, and restricting family reunion. Critics have described the plans as a threat to human rights (Amnesty International UK, 2025), and emerging evidence suggests they may increase uncertainty and insecurity across the social determinants of health including housing, education, and employment (Boukari et al., 2025). Such changes are likely to have significant consequences for older refugees and asylum seekers. This Policy Spotlight article does not review the full range of asylum reforms, but it instead examines four policy changes that illustrate a broader shift to more restrictive, temporary, and conditional forms of humanitarian protection. It argues that asylum policy should be viewed as an issue of aging and public health, rather than solely through a migration lens. Table 1 summarizes the four reforms examined in this article and their implementation status as of July 2026. The following sections consider their potential implications for the health and well-being of older refugees and asylum seekers. Summary of current and planned UK asylum reforms, as of July 2026. Note. Refugees are people granted protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention. Asylum seekers are individuals awaiting a decision on their claim. Refused asylum seekers have had their claim rejected (UN General Assembly, 1951; Liebling et al., 2014). Dates and status are correct at the time of writing. Sources: Cuibus (2025); Right to Remain (2026); British Red Cross (2026). From March 2026, newly recognized refugees receive 30 months’ permission to stay rather than an initial 5-year grant of refugee leave (Home Office, 2026). This shift toward repeated status reviews prolongs legal uncertainty and administrative scrutiny. Previous research has found that insecure status is associated with poor mental health, through stressors including social exclusion, stigma, and fear of deportation (Côté-Olijnyk et al., 2024). This instability adversely affects housing security, employment prospects, and access to public services, all of which are key determinants of health (Wheeler, 2024). These effects may be particularly pronounced for older people, for whom chronic illness, language barriers, and reduced mobility can make repeated status reviews more difficult to navigate. From June 2026, asylum support became a discretionary rather than statutory power, removing the Home Office’s legal duty to support asylum seekers facing destitution. This could make accommodation and financial support conditional on work, compliance, or perceived self-sufficiency (Right to Remain, 2026). The 21-day timeframe for refused asylum seekers to demonstrate why they should remain in the UK is unrealistic given bureaucratic complexity, strained capacity of legal aid, and the time required to gather necessary evidence. This will likely push more people into poverty and homelessness (Wheeler, 2024). Older asylum seekers may be particularly affected because they are more likely to rely on welfare support due to chronic health conditions, lower labor market participation, and reduced capacity to absorb financial shocks (Veldman et al., 2026). The proposed “earned settlement” model would extend the route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from 5 years to at least 10 years. Depending on mode of entry into the UK, English language ability, and use of public funds, the qualifying period could be extended further (Cuibus, 2025). For older refugees, prolonged settlement insecurity may be especially significant because time pressures become more acute in later life (Oliver et al., 2025). Ageist assumptions about work and productivity may disadvantage older people in an earned settlement model (Centre for Ageing Better, 2023), and stricter English-language requirements could disproportionately affect those with interrupted education or age-related cognitive decline (Kristiansen et al., 2016). Since September 2025, refugee family reunion applications have been suspended while the government develops a new framework (UNHCR, 2026). Family reunion is expected to become more restrictive, with new rules potentially including application fees; the Immigration Health Surcharge; minimum income requirements; and English language requirements (British Red Cross, 2026). This would make reunion with family members less accessible, especially for those with limited resources. In later life, family members are often a source of informal care, emotional support, and practical help, especially where statutory support is limited (Horn & Fokkema, 2025). Prolonged separation risks increasing isolation while reducing access to care and support. Continued uncertainty surrounding the proposed changes to family reunion policy further compounds the psychological burden associated with seeking refuge. Taken together, these reforms signal a broader policy shift toward temporary, conditional, and increasingly fragile forms of humanitarian protection, with important implications for public health. Rather than facilitating the stability that underpins health and well-being, they extend legal uncertainty, heighten the risk of destitution, and weaken familial and community support. In doing so, they shift responsibility away from the state and onto families, voluntary and community organizations (VCOs), and individuals themselves, even as these sources of support face increasing strain. A more just approach would recognize refugees and asylum seekers as people with legitimate health care and social needs, ensuring that protection is stable, accessible, and grounded in dignity rather than conditionality. A more just approach would recognize refugees and asylum seekers as people with legitimate health care and social needs, ensuring that protection is stable, accessible, and grounded in dignity rather than conditionality. UK policymakers should assess asylum reforms not only in terms of migration control, but also their consequences for health and well-being at all life stages, including in later life, through age-sensitive impact assessments. Providers of health and social care should recognize prolonged legal insecurity, family separation, and destitution as factors shaping health and well-being. They should facilitate equitable access to primary care, mental health services, and social prescribing for older refugees and asylum seekers, who may be less able to seek out support themselves. Local authorities should explicitly include refugees and asylum seekers within age-friendly strategies, working closely with refugee VCOs to improve access to welfare and housing support. Finally, VCOs require sustainable funding to continue providing advocacy, practical assistance, and holistic, culturally appropriate support for older people navigating increasingly complex and restrictive immigration systems. Tess Hartland is a research associate with Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG) at the University of Manchester. She completed her PhD in Sociology in 2025. Tess also holds a BSc in Biomedical Science and MSc in Global Health. Her research interests include forced migration, aging, and global health. This work was supported by The Leverhulme Trust (UK). Grant number: RL-2019-011. None declared.