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United Kingdom Asylum

🇬🇧 United KingdomAsylum6 recorded versionsLast change 24 Aug 2026

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Current rules

The Home Office will make funding available to local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) during the financial year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Payments for each eligible UASC will be at a rate of £143 per child per night. Additional incentivised funding of £8,000 is available for transfers made within two working days (from 1 June 2026 to 30 September 2026), and £4,000 for transfers made within five working days (from 1 April 2026 to 30 November 2026) under the National Transfer Scheme (NTS). Funding ceases the day before the young person turns 18, or if the child is absent for more than 28 consecutive days (with an exception for hospital stays), or if the child is placed in a Young Offenders Institute (YOI) for more than 28 days.

Overview

The UK Home Secretary presented the Immigration and Asylum Bill for its second reading, outlining plans to overhaul the asylum system. Key proposals include establishing new capped, safe and legal sponsorship routes for refugees, starting in Autumn 2027, and creating an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority staffed by adjudicators instead of judges to speed up appeal decisions. The bill aims to reduce irregular immigration, cut costs, and ensure fairness to both genuine refugees and British citizens.

Who is affected by the latest change

Local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC)
Children who are dependants of an asylum seeker if they temporarily become a looked after child

What changed in the latest version

Before

Local councils received money for supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) and former Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children who had left care. This was under the rules for the 2025-2026 financial year. These old rules covered funding rates, eligibility, and how to submit claims for money back. These details may have been different for specific amounts or incentive schemes.

After

The Home Office will provide money to local councils. This applies to councils in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The money is for supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). This funding is for the financial year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Councils will get £143 for each eligible Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Child per night. Extra incentive money is available. Councils will get £8,000 for transfers made within two working days under the National Transfer Scheme (NTS). This applies from 1 June 2026 to 30 September 2026. They will get £4,000 for transfers made within five working days under the National Transfer Scheme. This applies from 1 April 2026 to 30 November 2026. Funding stops the day before the young person turns 18 years old. It also stops if the child is away for more than 28 days in a row. An exception applies if the child is in hospital. Funding also stops if the child is placed in a Young Offenders Institute (YOI) for more than 28 days.

This update directly affects local councils. These councils are responsible for caring for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). The update tells them how much money they can expect back from the Home Office. New incentive funding helps councils get extra payments if they transfer children quickly under the National Transfer Scheme. Councils can get a lot of extra money if they make transfers within two or five working days. This will influence how councils decide where to place Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children. It could lead to children being processed and transferred faster. If councils do not meet monthly submission deadlines, or do not register asylum claims quickly, they might get payments late or not get funding at all.

Explained simply

Imagine you're a local council helping kids who arrived in the UK alone asking for safety. The government gives you money to look after them. Now, for the year starting 1 April 2026, the government has changed how much money you get and for whom. They're paying councils £143 a day for each child. If you move a child to another council really quickly, you can get extra bonus money, up to £8,000, to encourage fast help. For young adults who were once these children and are now over 18 but still need support, the council gets £270 a week. This helps make sure everyone gets the care they need, but councils need to keep track of everyone's status carefully.

Frequently asked

Version history

v7Effective 1 Apr 2026EffectiveHigh impact
UK Updates Funding Instructions for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) and Care Leavers for 2026-2027 Financial Year
UK Visas and Immigration has updated its funding rules for local councils that support Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). These new rules are for the financial year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The Home Office will pay local councils across the UK £143 for each eligible Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Child per night. New incentive payments have started for the National Transfer Scheme (NTS). The National Transfer Scheme moves Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children between local councils. Councils will get £8,000 if they complete a transfer within two working days. This applies to transfers made between June and September 2026. They will get £4,000 if they complete a transfer within five working days. This applies to transfers made between April and November 2026. This funding encourages quicker transfers. It helps make sure that newly arriving Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children get proper care.
v6Effective 19 Aug 2026EffectiveMedium impact
UK Updates Algeria Country Policy and Information Notes for Asylum and Human Rights Applications, Focusing on SOGI Issues
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its guidance for asylum and human rights applications about Algeria. It has changed the Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) about sexual orientation and gender identity. The new CPIN is dated July 2026. It became active on 19 August 2026. This note gives new information about how lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT+) people and people of other sexual orientations and gender identities are treated in Algeria. It covers changes since May 2025. This new CPIN replaces the old one on the same topic, which was published in May 2025 and covered information up to that date.
v5Effective 20 Aug 2026EffectiveMedium impact
UK Visas and Immigration Updates Albania Country Policy and Information Notes for Asylum and Human Rights Applications
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has updated its Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) for Albania. These notes help UKVI decide asylum and human rights applications. On 7 April 2026, UKVI replaced the CPIN on domestic violence against women with a new CPIN on gender-based violence. On 17 August 2026, UKVI removed the CPIN on human trafficking from July 2024 because it was old. On 3 October 2025, UKVI updated information about sexual orientation and gender identity. On 21 July 2025, UKVI added a new CPIN about unaccompanied children. On 22 November 2022, UKVI removed information about Roma and Balkan Egyptians.
v4Effective 14 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
UK Updates Country Policy and Information Notes for Egypt: Christians, Opposition to the State, and Military Service
UK Visas and Immigration has updated its Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) for Egypt. One CPIN about Christians in Egypt was updated on 14 August 2026. A new CPIN, named 'Country policy and information note: opposition to the state, Egypt, March 2026', was added on 9 March 2026. The CPIN about military service in Egypt was updated on 16 June 2025.
v2Effective 12 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impact
UK Closes 13 Asylum Hotels, Shifts to Larger Accommodation, and Sets New Appeal Decision Target
On 12 August 2026, the UK Home Office said it would close 13 asylum hotels in England. This means fewer than 160 hotels now house asylum seekers. This change saves taxpayers £51 million. These savings add to £224 million expected this year and nearly £1 billion since the 2024 general election. The government is moving asylum seekers from hotels to larger, basic places. This includes looking at three new sites from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to hold up to 3,750 people. It also means using current military sites for longer. At the same time, the government set a new goal. Asylum and immigration appeals for people in accommodation and foreign national offenders must now be decided within 24 weeks. This reduces the old average wait of 67 weeks.
v1Issued 13 Jul 2026DebateHigh impact
Immigration and Asylum Bill: second reading opening speech
The UK Home Secretary presented the Immigration and Asylum Bill for its second reading. The bill plans to change the asylum system. Key proposals include: creating new, limited, safe, and legal sponsorship routes for people seeking protection (refugees). These routes will start in autumn 2027. The bill also plans to set up an Independent Immigration Appeals Authority. This authority will have adjudicators, not judges. This will make appeal decisions faster. The bill aims to reduce unlawful immigration, lower costs, and ensure fairness. It wants to be fair to both genuine refugees and British citizens.

Timeline

Announced
24 Aug 2026
UK Visas and Immigration has issued updated funding instructions and submission sheets for local authorities for the 2026-2027 financial year, effective 1 April 2026. These instructions detail the conditions for claiming reimbursement for supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) and former UASC care leavers, introducing new incentive payments for timely transfers under the National
Takes effect
17 Aug 2026
The Country Policy and Information Note (CPIN) on gender-based violence, Albania, April 2026 has replaced the previous note on domestic violence against women. The CPIN on human trafficking, Albania, July 2024 has been removed as out of date and not being replaced. Information on sexual orientation and gender identity has been updated as of 3 October 2025. Information on Roma and Balkan Egyptians
Takes effect
14 Aug 2026
The 'Country policy and information note: Christians, Egypt' has been updated as of 14 August 2026.
Takes effect
12 Aug 2026
The UK government is ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers, moving them into larger, basic accommodation like former military sites. As of 12 August 2026, less than 160 hotels remain in use. Additionally, a new 24-week target for deciding asylum and immigration appeals has been introduced for those in accommodation and foreign national offenders.
Announced
12 Aug 2026
The UK government has closed 13 additional asylum hotels, bringing the total number of operational hotels to less than 160. This move is part of a strategic shift to replace hotel accommodation with larger, basic sites, such as former military bases, aiming to save taxpayer money and restore local amenities. Concurrently, a new 24-week target has been introduced for deciding asylum and immigration
Takes effect
1 Apr 2026
The Home Office will make funding available to local authorities in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) during the financial year 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. Payments for each eligible UASC will be at a rate of £143 per child per night. Additional incentivised funding of £8,000 is available for transfers made within two work
Announced
9 Dec 2016
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has continued to update its Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) for Albania, which are essential instruments for decision-making in asylum and human rights applications within the United Kingdom. The most recent change, effective 17 August 2026, involved the removal of an outdated human trafficking note without replacement. Earlier updates in April 2026 sa
Announced
9 Dec 2016
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has recently updated several Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs) pertaining to Egypt. These updates, occurring on 14 August 2026, 9 March 2026, and 16 June 2025, provide current guidance on the situations of Christians, individuals opposing the state, and military service for use in asylum and human rights application decisions. The changes reflect o

goborda provides monitoring and explanation of publicly available policy information. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration professional before acting.