The UK Home Office has announced a new 24-week deadline for certain asylum and immigration appeal decisions, a significant reduction from the current average of 67 weeks. The target, effective from August 12, 2026, applies to appeals from non-detained foreign national offenders (FNOs) and asylum seekers receiving government support. The government expects this faster process to save taxpayers an estimated £6.9 billion and help close remaining asylum hotels.
New Target for Faster Appeals
The First-tier Tribunal is now required to hear and decide appeals from non-detained FNOs and people receiving government asylum support and accommodation within 24 weeks of a case being received. This change was confirmed in a statement published by the UK Home Office.
Currently, the average waiting time for a tribunal decision is 67 weeks, meaning the new target cuts the wait by more than a third. The move is part of a broader effort to deport people faster and reduce the costs of housing failed applicants.
Government Cites Cost Savings and Reduced Backlog
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Anna Turley, highlighted the burden of delays on the appeal system. "This new 24-week target will see cases resolved faster, reduce reliance on taxpayer-funded accommodation and speed up the removal of those with no right to be in the UK," Turley said. The government projects that faster decisions will free up space in asylum accommodation and contribute to estimated taxpayer savings of £6.9 billion.
Since the 2024 general election, overall asylum costs have dropped by £1 billion, and the number of asylum hotels in use has fallen from a peak of 400 in 2023 to fewer than 170. The government has committed to shutting every remaining hotel before the end of this parliament. Additionally, nearly 10,000 FNOs have been removed from the UK since the election, a figure 36% higher than in the equivalent 21-month period before it.
Backlog and New Appeals Body
Despite the new deadline, the tribunal still faces a backlog of more than 150,000 pending appeals. The government acknowledged that the 24-week target alone would not be enough to address that volume. To tackle this, the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which cleared its second reading in August, proposes creating a new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) to run alongside the First-tier Tribunal. The IIAA would gradually absorb new cases, allowing the tribunal to focus on existing ones. Independent adjudicators within the IIAA would prioritise high-harm FNOs and cases involving disputed human rights claims.
To boost short-term capacity, sitting days in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber are set to increase by 19% in 2025-2026 compared with the previous year.
Related Developments
In a related story, Legit.ng reported that 13 UK hotels had closed after providing accommodation for asylum seekers. Additionally, the UK government is planning to introduce a £10,000 repayment scheme for asylum support under the new Immigration and Asylum Bill. Under the proposals, asylum seekers who gain the right to work in the UK must pay the flat-rate fee before they can settle permanently. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood explained: "Asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so."
