The United Kingdom has announced new immigration reforms that could require some asylum seekers to pay up to £10,000 (approximately ₦18 million) before becoming eligible for settlement.

The policy, introduced to Parliament by the Home Office on Tuesday, grants authorities new powers to recover costs from adult asylum seekers who have received government support, including accommodation and subsistence allowances, provided they have sufficient financial means.

Traditionally, asylum seekers have not been required to pay for settlement and such charges are not widely practiced globally.

UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, defended the move, stating that the cost of supporting asylum seekers has placed a significant burden on taxpayers.

“The cost of asylum accommodation on the British taxpayer is too high,” Mahmood said.

“We have already reduced asylum costs by £1 billion, but it is also right that we ask those who can contribute to do so.

Receiving asylum support is a right, but it is also a responsibility. Once individuals are able to contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, we expect them to do so.”

Under the new policy, the repayment requirement may also apply to former asylum seekers who leave the UK and later seek to return.

According to Home Office estimates, the average nightly cost of accommodating asylum seekers is £23.25 in dispersal housing and as high as £144 in hotel accommodation. Weekly subsistence payments range from £9.95 to £49.18 per person.

Government data further indicates that about 25 percent of individuals aged 16 to 64 granted asylum between 2015 and 2023 were employed within the same year of receiving their status. This figure rises to approximately 50 percent within two years.

Among those still in employment eight years after being granted refugee status, 37 percent were working full-time, with a median annual income of £23,000, while 40 percent earned above the minimum wage.

The Home Office stated that the reforms are intended to ensure that asylum seekers who are financially capable contribute toward the cost of their support, reinforcing what it described as a shared responsibility.