At First Law Solicitors, we guide clients through the complex and evolving process of securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a refugee or person with humanitarian protection.
From January 2026, the Home Office has implemented the most significant reform to refugee settlement in two decades. The traditional five-year route has been replaced by a new Core Protection model that requires ongoing engagement, periodic renewal, and proof of integration before permanent settlement is granted.
Our solicitors provide strategic representation throughout every renewal, review, and appeal stage, ensuring that your protection, stability, and dignity remain intact.
Under the November 2025 Asylum Reform, refugees and individuals granted humanitarian protection now enter the Core Protection Route, replacing the previous five-year direct pathway to ILR.
Those granted protection after 1 January 2026 are now placed on a 20-year baseline route to settlement. During this period, your protection status must be renewed every 30 months (2.5 years).
Each renewal is accompanied by a Safe Return Review, where the Home Office reassesses whether conditions in your home country remain unsafe. If your country is deemed safe for return, your protection may be curtailed.
At First Law Solicitors, we prepare clients for every renewal cycle with proactive strategy and evidence management. We gather updated country reports, psychological assessments, and integration records to demonstrate ongoing need for protection and contribution to UK society.
Although the 20-year baseline applies to most refugees, several Earned Settlement reductions are available under the 2026 policy framework.
Our solicitors evaluate your personal and professional profile to create a settlement timeline tailored to your eligibility. By aligning your renewal evidence with Home Office integration metrics, we ensure you are always positioned for the earliest possible transition to ILR.
Since January 2026, refugee status and renewals are managed exclusively through the Home Office eVisa system, in line with the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA).
Physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) no longer exist. Your protection status is verified digitally through your UKVI account, which records your lawful residence, employment history, and contribution data automatically.
Under the DUAA framework, the Home Office now accesses HMRC and DWP records directly during renewal and settlement assessments. This “real-time integration check” confirms that your tax, employment, and benefits records support your claimed residence and contribution.
At First Law Solicitors, all renewal and settlement submissions are filed securely through our encrypted digital portal using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES), ensuring compliance with DUAA 2025 and full authentication of your application materials.
As of September 2025, the Unconditional Family Reunion Policy has been suspended. Refugees seeking to reunite with family members must now meet the same financial threshold that applies to British citizens sponsoring dependants — currently set at £29,000 per year, unless exceptional humanitarian grounds are proven under Article 8 ECHR.
Our solicitors assess both income-based and exceptional applications, preparing comprehensive evidence to demonstrate family dependency, best interests of children, and humanitarian grounds for reunification.
We also coordinate with our Family Law team to protect cross-border parental rights and manage cases involving children or spouses still in conflict zones.
Under the new 30-month renewal cycle, the Home Office conducts a Safe Return Review at each stage.
This review examines:
At First Law Solicitors, we manage this process proactively. Before each renewal, we compile a comprehensive Protection Audit covering country conditions, personal safety risks, and integration contributions. This anticipatory approach minimises the risk of refusal and ensures you remain lawfully protected at all times.
Once ILR is granted, whether after 20 years or via an Earned Settlement reduction, you can live in the United Kingdom permanently without immigration restrictions.
After holding ILR for twelve months, you may apply to naturalise as a British citizen, provided you meet the residence, language, and good character requirements. Our team will guide you through this transition, ensuring that your legal and digital records are aligned for a seamless application.
Strategic Protection: We anticipate and address Home Office risk factors before they arise, safeguarding your right to remain at every renewal.
Legal Precision: Each case is handled by an experienced solicitor with deep knowledge of international protection law and current Home Office practice.
Digital Integrity: All applications are DUAA-compliant, authenticated with Qualified Electronic Signatures, and securely managed through our encrypted client systems.
Human Advocacy: We treat every client with dignity, empathy, and respect, recognising that behind every case is a story of resilience and hope.
At First Law Solicitors, we combine compassion with structure, helping you move from temporary protection to lasting permanence.
If you hold refugee status or humanitarian protection and want expert advice on your renewal or settlement under the new 2026 framework, contact First Law Solicitors today.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
Complete our secure online enquiry form to arrange a private consultation with an experienced asylum and human rights solicitor.
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