Why Is Britain Copying Europe's Toughest Immigration System Right Now?

Britain is under increased pressure to regulate immigration as the general population grows restless and the far-right Reform UK party continues to gain momentum. The first sign of a substantial change in the attitude of Labour toward asylum seekers is the sending of officials to Copenhagen by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to research the infamously tough asylum regime in Denmark. The reforms suggested may change access of asylum seekers to settlement rights, family reunification, and long-term residency in the UK.

HIGHLIGHTS/TLDR:

• October 2025: UK Home Office officials travel to Denmark to study its restrictive immigration framework, considered Europe's toughest

• November 2025: Plans emerge for temporary asylum status, mandatory English tests, and potential accommodation cost repayment for asylum seekers

• Late 2025: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expected to announce comprehensive immigration overhaul incorporating Danish-style policies

• Current Crisis: UK asylum applications reach 111,000 in the year ending June 2025, marking a 14% increase and nearly double the 2021 figures.

UK Turns to Denmark's Immigration Model Amid Rising Migration Pressure

Britain is preparing to adopt Denmark's controversial immigration framework as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood seeks solutions to manage record asylum applications and mounting political pressure. With officials examining Copenhagen's stringent laws regarding family reunification, temporary protection status, and integration requirements, the UK-Denmark immigration model has become a model for reform. The action was taken because, in the year ending June 2025, the UK received 111,000 asylum claims, which was 14% higher than the previous year and nearly twice as high as the 2021 numbers. As the anti-immigration Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, gains ground in opinion polls by emphasising the effects of immigration on infrastructure and public services, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government comes under heavy fire.

Denmark's Immigration Framework

After two decades of increasingly stringent immigration laws, Denmark has established a reputation as having the most stringent immigration laws in Europe. With authorities successfully removing 95% of rejected asylum seekers, the Scandinavian country saw a historically low number of asylum applications in 2024. The Danish strategy prioritises short-term safety over long-term residency. The majority of asylum seekers are granted temporary residency permits, which may be withdrawn as soon as Danish authorities determine that it is safe for them to return to their home countries.

Denmark became the first EU member state to begin such deportations in 2022 when it refused to renew permits for more than 1,200 Syrian refugees after deeming Damascus safe. In Denmark, obtaining permanent residency necessitates living there for eight years and meeting strict requirements, such as working full-time during that time. This contrasts sharply with the UK's current five-year pathway to settlement. 

Family Reunification Restrictions

Denmark's family reunion laws, which have far more stringent age and financial requirements than those in nearby European countries, have drawn special attention from UK Home Office officials. In order to avoid forced marriages, the sponsor and their partner must be at least 24 years old. Passing Danish language tests, proving the sponsor has lived in the country for three years, and fulfilling significant financial guarantees of about 59,052 Danish kroner (about $8,600) are further prerequisites. Those living in "parallel societies"—places where more than half of the population is non-Western—are prohibited from obtaining family reunions. Denmark is less desirable than Germany, Sweden, and other countries because of these restrictive immigration laws, according to Christian Albrekt Larsen, a professor of political science at Aalborg University.

Proposed UK Reforms

The proposed reforms by Shabana Mahmood will fundamentally alter Britain's asylum laws. In addition to passing rigorous English language proficiency exams, asylum seekers who want to stay in the UK must keep their criminal records spotless. Asylum seekers will have to prove their contributions to society through National Insurance payments, volunteer work in the community, and avoiding benefit claims during the five- to ten-year settlement process. Those who are granted asylum might have to pay back the costs of their housing and benefits.

As part of a significant system overhaul, Home Office documents list at least 14 locations that can accommodate up to 10,000 migrants. The government intends to move thousands of asylum seekers to military locations and government-owned facilities, ending the use of asylum hotels, which have put a strain on nearby communities.

The reforms will eliminate automatic family reunion rights for asylum recipients, fundamentally altering the UK's protection framework. Genuine refugees will not be returned to dangerous home countries but will face significantly longer and more conditional routes to permanent status.

Political Divide and Criticism

Within Labour, the Danish-inspired reforms have caused division. Labelling the plans as "policies of the far right," Indian-origin MP Nadia Whittome questioned why a Labour government would take such actions.

Clive Lewis, another Labour backbench MP, warned that Denmark's Social Democrats have adopted talking points from the far right. He cautioned that while Labour needs to win back Reform-leaning voters, it cannot afford to lose progressive support.

Conversely, MPs representing Red Wall constituencies—seats vulnerable to Reform UK challenges—have urged ministers to go further in Denmark's direction. The political tensions reflect broader public sentiment, with approximately 57% of UK residents considering immigration an important issue as of late 2025.

Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, criticised plans to place asylum seekers on military sites as neither viable nor humane. He argued these measures are extremely costly, logistically complex, and fail to address fundamental asylum system issues.

UK Immigration Statistics and Context

The immigration landscape of Britain has changed dramatically over the last few years. Total arrivals to the UK in the year to June 2025 were 134.8 million, including 56% who were British nationals. Of the asylum claimants, half arrived through irregular routes, while 37% previously entered on visas.

The number of settlement grants rose to about 163,000 in the year to June 2025, up almost 20% from the prior year. Many were skilled workers who completed the required residence periods. Naturalisation increased to about 257,000, more than doubling from 2021, and reflects how earlier migrant cohorts are securing long-term status.

In comparison, Denmark had an asylum grant rate of 72% at the first instance in 2023, though overall numbers were far lower because of more restrictive entry practices. The Danish Immigration Service and Refugee Appeals Board keep to very high standards, with the latter overturning 47% of the first-instance refusals in 2023.

Implementation Timeline and Challenges

The far-reaching immigration overhaul is expected to be announced by Mahmood before the end of November 2025. The reforms will include changes to immigration and human rights laws, preventing unsuccessful asylum seekers from avoiding deportation on grounds of inferior prison or healthcare systems abroad.

The Home Office has committed to working closely with local authorities as it identifies alternative sites to reduce pressure from asylum hotels. Due diligence assessments for all potential accommodation sites are underway.

Implementing Danish-style policies in the UK context presents unique challenges. Gradual policy evolution in Denmark since 1998 created public consensus, which may well not exist in Britain's more polarised political environment. The UK faces higher absolute asylum numbers and greater geographic accessibility for irregular migration routes.

European Context and International Reactions

Denmark's "paradigm shift" under Social Democratic Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen between 2019 and 2023 fundamentally reoriented migration policy from integration to return. This approach has influenced other European nations, which are all considering similar measures.

Britain's study of the Danish model comes after Prime Minister Starmer joined other leaders for the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen, where new ways to tackle illegal migration were discussed. The UK's changes form part of wider European attempts to cut asylum applications and bolster borders.

However, temporary protection status would be a significant departure from how the UK has traditionally protected refugees, and human rights organisations question whether such measures are compatible with international conventions on refugee protection. 

Conclusion

The UK-Denmark immigration model represents a fundamental shift in Britain's approach to asylum and migration management. As Shabana Mahmood prepares to unveil comprehensive reforms, the government has to balance political pressure from both progressive and conservative factions, along with practical challenges of implementation. Denmark's success in reducing asylum applications to 40-year lows has drawn international attention, but whether these results can be replicated in the UK's different political and geographical context remains to be seen.

Reforms will be a test for Labour's ability to maintain its progressive identity by adopting policies that have often been associated with right-wing governments. Asylum applications have doubled since 2021, while public concern about immigration has reached peak levels, meaning the stakes have never been higher for both Britain's refugee protection framework and its political landscape.

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