UK Bans Asylum Seekers from Taxis for Medical Appointments — The UK government has announced a ban on asylum seekers using taxis for medical appointments, a decision stemming from a review prompted by rising costs associated with the service. The Home Office reportedly spends approximately £15.8 million annually on taxi services for asylum seekers, leading to the new policy that will take effect in February. Under the new rules, asylum seekers will be required to use alternative transportation, such as buses, regardless of the urgency of their medical needs.
Government’s Response to Rising Costs
The decision to prohibit taxi use follows an investigation by the BBC, which highlighted instances of asylum seekers undertaking lengthy taxi rides to medical appointments. One individual recounted a 250-mile journey that cost £600 to visit a general practitioner. Such long trips often result from asylum seekers being relocated to different areas, sometimes during critical medical treatments.
Advocacy groups have long campaigned for the introduction of a bus pass for asylum seekers, arguing that it would alleviate the burden of transportation costs and enable them to access essential services, including school for their children and volunteer opportunities. Citizens UK, in collaboration with 25 civil society organizations, initiated a petition in 2023 advocating for this change.
A pilot program for free bus travel for asylum seekers was launched in Oxford in November 2024, following persistent advocacy efforts. Meanwhile, Scotland has committed to providing free bus travel for asylum seekers by 2026.
Currently, asylum seekers are entitled to one return bus journey per week, while Home Office contractors frequently arrange taxi rides for other necessary trips, regardless of the individual’s preference. A subcontractor in southeast London disclosed to the BBC that their company charges the Home Office around £1,000 daily for transporting asylum seekers to medical appointments just two miles away.
The government has stated that new regulations will limit taxi use to “exceptional, evidenced cases,” which may include individuals with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, or pregnancy-related needs. Approval from the Home Office will be required for such journeys.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, expressed concern over the potential for the new criteria to be overly restrictive. “There is a risk the threshold will be set too high,” he noted, emphasizing that the Home Office lacks a consistent approach to assessing vulnerability. Solomon criticized the current taxi expenditure as a symptom of systemic inefficiencies within the asylum system, stating, “The use of taxis is symptomatic of an asylum system that allows private contractors to make vast profits at the expense of the taxpayer.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the new policy, stating, “I am ending the unrestricted use of taxis by asylum seekers for hospital appointments, authorizing them only in the most exceptional circumstances.” She emphasized the government’s commitment to eliminating waste and improving the efficiency of asylum accommodations.
The government aims to transition asylum seekers from hotels to alternative accommodations, such as military sites, by the end of the current parliamentary session, which is projected to save £500 million. Recent figures indicate that 36,273 asylum seekers are still residing in hotels, a number that has increased since June.
In addition to the transportation policy, the government has ramped up efforts to remove illegal migrants, claiming nearly 50,000 individuals have been deported since Labour took office. Raids targeting illegal employment have reached record levels, with over 8,000 arrests made between October 2024 and September 2025.
For further information, visit The Guardian. For more updates on asylum policies, check out BrandonBent.com.
