The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the UK’s plan to make some refugees wait up to 30 years to apply for settlement raises significant concerns.

The government kept a wait of up to 30 years for refugees who arrived by irregular routes and created an exemption allowing care workers to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. UNHCR said extended settlement waits, short-term stay arrangements and limits on access to citizenship could undermine refugees’ security and ability to integrate.