Asylum seekers in the UK will mostly stop using taxis for medical appointments starting Feb 2026, per new cost-cutting rules.

Asylum seekers in the UK will no longer use taxis for most medical appointments starting February 2026, under new rules announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The ban, aimed at cutting costs and improving oversight, limits taxi use to exceptional cases like serious illness or disability, requiring Home Office approval. The move follows concerns over high expenses—averaging £15.8 million annually—and reports of costly, long-distance trips. Alternative transport, including public transit, will be required, with the government phasing out hotel housing by 2029. The policy is part of broader asylum reforms, including temporary refugee status and incentives for voluntary returns.