The UK government has announced new restrictions that will make it nearly impossible for refugees arriving by small boats to gain British citizenship. The Home Office updated its guidance, stating that applicants who have made a “dangerous journey” will normally be refused.
This decision has been met with strong opposition from Labour MP Stella Creasy and refugee organisations, who argue that the policy is unjust and contradicts the principles of integration. According to the Refugee Council, the move could prevent more than 70,000 refugees from becoming British citizens.
Home Office toughens rules on refugee citizenship applications
Under previous regulations, refugees who arrived in the UK by irregular routes were required to wait ten years before being considered for citizenship. The new guidance, however, imposes a near-total ban. According to the Home Office, anyone applying for citizenship from 10 February 2025 who previously entered the UK illegally will “normally be refused, regardless of the time that has passed since the illegal entry took place.”
The rules explicitly target those who have arrived without valid entry clearance or an electronic travel authorisation by making a “dangerous journey,” which includes travel by small boats or by being concealed in a vehicle. The Home Office defended the move, stating that it aligns with existing rules preventing those who enter illegally from gaining citizenship.
A spokesperson for the department stated: “This guidance further strengthens measures to make it clear that anyone who enters the UK illegally, including small boat arrivals, faces having a British citizenship application refused.”
Criticism from MPs and refugee organisations
The policy has been strongly criticised by refugee rights groups and Labour politicians. According to the Refugee Council, the measure “flies in the face of reason” and contradicts the UK’s historical commitment to welcoming those in need of protection. Enver Solomon, the council’s chief executive, argued that the British public supports integration for refugees who have been granted safety in the country.
Labour MP Stella Creasy called for the policy to be changed immediately. Writing on social media, she stated: “If we give someone refugee status, it can’t be right to then refuse them [a] route to become a British citizen.” She also highlighted that these individuals are not being denied asylum, but rather the right to full integration into British society.
Kolbassia Haoussou, director at Freedom from Torture, described the decision as a “dark moment in British history.” He warned that blocking refugees from gaining citizenship would prevent them from fully integrating into society.
Haoussou, a refugee himself, stated: “Everyone deserves the chance to settle and fully integrate. Blocking their ability to become citizens prevents refugees from flourishing in their new communities.”
