The government will set up the Independent Immigration Appeals Authority through the Immigration and Asylum Bill confirmed in the King’s Speech.
The new body will hear appeals from late 2027 in stages. It will create one route for claims and stop further claims about new matters after an initial appeal.
Current caseload and planned changes
The average time to clear cases is 61 weeks. More than 150,000 immigration and asylum appeals remain waiting.
The IIAA will prioritise cases in the public interest, such as high-harm foreign offenders and clearly unfounded human rights claims. It will employ independently appointed adjudicators with broad eligibility criteria to increase capacity.
Integration with removals and existing progress
The authority will link to the immigration system so unsuccessful appeals move quickly to removal. Nearly 70,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been returned or deported since the current government took office.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the tribunal is overwhelmed and that the new body will ensure swift hearings for legitimate claims while removing those abusing the system.
Sitting days in the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber will rise by 19 per cent this year compared with 2024/25. The number of people waiting for an initial asylum decision has fallen by 72 per cent since June 2023.