Core protection: what the bill actually says
Part 3 (clauses 21–22) is short but easy to misread. Clause 21 does not introduce core protection — it gives the Secretary of State a one-year power to rebuild the status system (merging refugee status and humanitarian protection into a single "protection status") by separate regulations. The 30-month status is already in force since 26 March 2026 — through the Immigration Rules, not this bill. Clause 22 adds a statutory meaning of "lawfully staying": it excludes national-security risks and people convicted of particularly serious crimes.
The bill is not law yet (2nd reading). However, status for 30 months instead of 5 years is already being granted — since 26 March 2026, under the Immigration Rules. Claims made before 1 March 2026 follow the old rules. This Part is about the legal foundation for the next step.
What happens today
Two kinds of protection: refugee status (under the Convention) and humanitarian protection. For claims made before 1 March 2026 — 5-year status and ILR after 5. For new decisions since 26 March 2026 — 30 months with reviews (that is current rules, not the bill). The Convention phrase "lawfully staying" currently has no statutory definition.
What the bill proposes — 2 clauses
By regulations, the Secretary of State could: grant a single "protection status" instead of asylum/HP; replace the application with a "protection claim"; set rights and obligations; and rewrite the terms ("asylum", "refugee", "humanitarian protection") across any legislation. It expressly allows different rules for the Convention ground and the humanitarian protection ground. The clause itself contains no status lengths and no review conditions — all the substance goes into regulations.
New regulations under this power can only be made within one year of the clause coming into force. Whatever is made within the year stays in force. A built-in sunset — rare for powers this wide.
A new section 37A in the NABA 2022: a person is not treated as "lawfully staying" for Convention purposes if, under Article 33(2), there are reasonable grounds to regard them as a danger to national security, or they have been convicted of a particularly serious crime and are a danger to the community. Some Convention rights belong precisely to those "lawfully staying" — for example Article 28 (the Refugee Travel Document). Applies only to determinations made after commencement.
The press describes "core protection" as a finished system: 30 months, reviews, withdrawal of protection. But none of that is in the bill — clause 21 is nearly empty of substance: it is a power to build the system later, by regulations that Parliament scrutinises under a lighter procedure.
The practical takeaway: it is too early to judge "what happens to my status" from this clause — the decisive text has not been written yet. We will update this page when the regulations themselves appear.
What to do now
This page explains a bill — it is not legal advice.
- Status you already hold stands as granted — this Part does not change it by itself.
- Claimed before 1 March 2026 — old rules: 5 years, ILR after 5 (see the transitional rules).
- For advice on your own case — a regulated adviser: iaa.gov.uk. Free help — /en/lawyer.
- We track the bill's stages and the future regulations — this page will be updated.
Frequently asked questions
What is core protection?
The government's idea: instead of two kinds of protection (refugee status and humanitarian protection) — a single "protection status" reviewed every 30 months. Keep two things apart: the 30-month status is ALREADY in force for new decisions since 26 March 2026 — through the Immigration Rules. Clause 21 of the bill is the legal foundation: a power for the Secretary of State to rebuild the whole system later, by separate regulations.
Is this law already?
The bill — not yet (introduced 30 June 2026, now at 2nd reading). But do not confuse the two: status for 30 months instead of 5 years is already being granted since 26 March 2026 under the current rules. Clause 21 would add the statutory base, and all the substance of the single status would come later in regulations.
I have 5-year refugee status — do I lose it?
Clause 21 itself takes nothing from anyone — it is a framework power. Claims made before 1 March 2026 are decided under the old rules (5 years, ILR after 5). Future regulations could rename terms and restructure the system — whether that touches statuses already granted will only be clear from the text of those regulations. We will update this page as soon as they appear.
How would protection status differ from refugee status?
Under clause 21, "protection status" is an umbrella for two grounds: the Refugee Convention ground and the humanitarian protection ground. The clause expressly allows DIFFERENT rules for the two groups — a single name does not necessarily mean equal rights.
Why is the power limited to one year?
Clause 21(6): new regulations under this power can only be made within one year of the clause coming into force. But anything made within that year stays in force afterwards. It is a wide power — the regulations can rewrite wording in any legislation (including replacing the words "asylum", "refugee", "humanitarian protection" across the statute book).
What is "lawfully staying" and why does it matter?
Some Refugee Convention rights belong to refugees "lawfully staying" in the country — for example, Article 28 of the Convention on issuing a travel document (the Refugee Travel Document) speaks precisely of refugees "lawfully staying". Clause 22 writes into statute, for the first time, who does NOT count as "lawfully staying".
Who does clause 22 exclude?
A narrow group — people within Article 33(2) of the Convention: where there are reasonable grounds for regarding the person as a danger to UK national security, or where they have been convicted by a final judgment of a "particularly serious crime" and constitute a danger to the community (see section 72 of the NIAA 2002). Such a person is not treated as "lawfully staying" — and rights tied to that status can be withheld.
Does clause 22 apply retrospectively?
No. The new rule applies only to determinations made after the clause comes into force — that is stated expressly (new section 30(7) of the NABA 2022).
What should I do now?
Nothing urgent. If you hold status — it stands as granted. If you are waiting for a decision — the length of status is set by the current rules (30 months for decisions after 26 March 2026), not by this bill. For advice on your own case, see a regulated adviser (check at iaa.gov.uk). We will update this page at every stage and when the regulations appear.