Protection Status S after March 2027: Federal Council launches consultation

What changed

The Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has withdrawn a directive about taking asylum seeker applications. This directive was initially issued on 28 September 2026. The withdrawal, announced on 9 October 2026, was made because of unexpected problems that came up after the directive was put in place, such as Refugee Reception Offices (RROs) being overwhelmed and risks to public safety. The original directive was an attempt to put into practice a Constitutional Court judgment from 7 July 2026 concerning the Scalabrini of Cape Town case. Its withdrawal means the DHA will now create a new operational approach to follow the court's order.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration, along with the Home Office, have released detailed factsheets for the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026. These documents explain its plans and what impact they are expected to have. This update, published on 8 October 2026, gives clear explanations of the reforms, such as the creation of a new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority and changes to how people contribute to asylum support. The factsheets clarify how the reforms, first announced in November 2025, are meant to work, providing a deeper understanding of this important proposed law.

What changed

The Netherlands has opened a public consultation on a new bill that would make actively frustrating a person's own return from the Netherlands a criminal offence in certain circumstances. Minister for Asylum and Migration Van den Brink presented the proposal on 7 October 2026, and the Ministry of Justice and Security opened the draft law for public consultation on the same day. The consultation will run until 18 November 2026.

What changed

UK Visas and Immigration has released new funding instructions and corresponding submission forms for local authorities regarding the support and care of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) and care leavers. These updates apply to the financial year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, outlining the terms for claiming reimbursement of costs. The changes introduce specific funding rates and eligibility criteria, including incentivised funding for quicker transfers under the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) and updated requirements for submitting monthly applications by the 15th of each month. This ensures continued financial support for local authorities managing these vulnerable individuals.