The UK government has announced it will resume processing asylum claims from Syrians, ending a suspension that left thousands in legal limbo for over seven months following the fall of the Assad regime.

Asylum minister Angela Eagle confirmed the decision in a written statement, saying the Home Office had “worked to lift the pause as soon as there was sufficient information to make accurate and well-evidenced determinations.”

The pause, which began in December after President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by a rebel offensive led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), had affected over 7,000 Syrian nationals.

Many have been housed in UK government-funded facilities such as hotels, unable to work or plan their futures.

According to the Home Office, the updated guidance now allows caseworkers to make decisions on both asylum and permanent settlement applications. It also opens the door to enforced returns for Syrians whose claims are unsuccessful.

BBC News has learned that more than 20 Syrians have already returned to Syria voluntarily this year, and officials believe thousands more may now be eligible for return. A senior Home Office source said enforced removals could begin before the end of the year, adding that “they wouldn’t say it’s a million miles away.”

The new guidance outlines criteria for assessing risk, stating that instability or lack of order in Syria does not in itself amount to persecution. “All cases must be considered on their individual facts, with the onus on the person to demonstrate they face persecution or serious harm,” it says.

Under the UN Refugee Convention, asylum seekers must show a “well-founded fear of persecution.” However, the UK guidance now states there are no longer substantial grounds to assume a civilian is at risk from indiscriminate violence in Syria.

The decision to restart claims follows a detailed risk review conducted by the Home Office in coordination with the Foreign Office, made possible by the reestablishment of diplomatic contact.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited Damascus earlier this month, becoming the first UK minister to travel to Syria since the civil war began 14 years ago.

Following Lammy’s meeting with interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, now leading the HTS-run government, the UK began easing some sanctions against Syria.

Campaigners have welcomed the move to lift the pause but urged caution. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: “We know the pause in decision making had left Syrian people trapped in further limbo, unable to work, move on with their lives and fearing for their future.

However, the situation in Syria continues to be unstable, and we urge the government to ensure that every asylum application is assessed on a case-by-case basis, ensuring the safety and protection of Syrians who would face extreme risk if they are returned.”

Ministers have said that most Syrians who previously sought refuge in the UK were fleeing Assad’s rule, and may now feel safe to go back.

But the Home Office’s new policy clarifies that being an opponent of Assad alone no longer qualifies as grounds for fear of return.

For religious minorities, the new guidance states that Christians, Druze, Shia Muslims, and Kurds are generally “unlikely to face a real risk of persecution or serious harm from the state,” though claimants may still provide evidence to the contrary.

However, Kurds living under the control of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army are considered at greater risk due to their ethnicity or perceived political views.

The guidance also acknowledges that Alawites, an influential sect under Assad, may now be vulnerable. It reports that in March, approximately 800 Alawites were killed in attacks believed to be carried out by HTS-affiliated groups.

Officials now say Alawites “are likely to face a real risk of persecution or serious harm from the state due to their religion and/or an imputed political opinion.”

The UK’s shift comes amid broader changes in Europe. Austria recently became the first EU country to deport a Syrian national post-Assad, while France has raised concerns that delays in UK policy could attract more migrants.

Just last week, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced unease about the UK being seen as a destination for asylum seekers, ahead of a new ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal between the UK and France.

The Home Office is expected to move quickly with assessments and possible returns, using the revised guidance to resolve the backlog that has persisted since December.