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Back to 鈥業mmigration system statistics, year ending March 2026鈥� contents page

This release goes up to the year ending (YE) March 2026. The 鈥測ear ending鈥� period includes the 12 months up to and including the YE month. For example, YE March 2026 includes the 12 months between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

An asylum claim marks an individual鈥檚 entry into the UK asylum system. Following a claim, people may spend time in the system awaiting an initial decision and, where eligible, may receive accommodation or financial support. Outcomes on a claim may include a grant of protection or other leave, a refusal, or other outcomes such as a withdrawal or an administrative outcome, with some claimants able to appeal following a decision.

An asylum claim may relate to more than one person, if the main applicant has family members (dependants) who are included in the same claim.

These statistics focus on the number of people (main applicants and dependants) claiming asylum. The number of main applicants (excluding dependants) represents the total number of asylum cases that require consideration by the Home Office.

Statistics on other parts of the asylum system are available in other chapters of this report - 鈥楬ow many people are granted asylum in the UK?鈥� and 鈥楬ow many people are in the UK asylum system?鈥�. In addition, this release also includes a separate chapter on asylum seekers whose claimed age is doubted: 鈥楬ow many people have their age assessed?鈥�.

1. How many people claim asylum in the UK?

A total of 93,525 people claimed asylum in the UK in the YE March 2026. This was 12% less than in the YE March 2025.

Figure 1: Number of people claiming asylum in the UK, YE December 2002 to YE March 2026¹

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions - Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Includes main applicants and dependants.

Figure 1 shows an initial peak in the number of people claiming asylum in the UK at 103,081 in the YE December 2002. The high volume of claims was due to a large number of people fleeing persecution from countries with conflicts and political instability, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia.

After 2002, the number of people claiming asylum decreased. Between 2004 and 2020, asylum claim numbers remained below the YE December 2002 peak, with yearly totals ranging between 22,000 and 46,000 and seeing some gradual increase over the period. Since the second half of 2021, there has been a notable increase in claims, surpassing the YE December 2002 level and reaching a peak of 110,051 in the YE September 2025. While the number of people claiming asylum has fallen in the most recent year, it remains high compared with levels seen over the previous 2 decades.

1.1 How do asylum seekers travel to the UK?

To apply for asylum in the UK, an individual must be in the country; there is no specific 鈥榓sylum entry route鈥�, and so those seeking asylum arrive through a variety of means. These methods of entry include entering the UK without valid permission via illegal entry routes, such as small boats or clandestine entry, as well as entering with permission on a visa or other form of leave (but later finding they are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin). Some individuals claim asylum immediately on arrival, while others claim after having spent a period of time in the UK.

Figure 2 shows that small boats were the most common way for people to enter the UK before claiming asylum. Claims from people who arrived in the UK on a visa or other leave was the second most common method, having increased over 4 times since the YE March 2021.

In the YE March 2026:

• 42% (38,980) of asylum seekers arrived on a small boat
• 11% (10,094) entered through other illegal entry routes (in lorries, shipping containers, or without relevant documentation)
• 39% (36,711) of asylum seekers had previously entered the UK on a visa or other leave with relevant documentation, including those who entered on an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
• 8% (7,740) entered through other routes, such as through the common travel area without valid permission to enter, are UK-born children of asylum seekers or refugees, or were non-visa nationals visiting the UK, as well as claims which could not be matched to a route of entry

Figure 2: Number of people claiming asylum in the UK, by route of entry to the UK, YE December 2018 to YE March 2026¹

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions - Asy_D01a

Notes:

1. Claims from those who entered on a visa or other leave include those entering on an ETA.

Of the 36,711 asylum claimants who held a visa or other form of leave prior to claiming asylum:

• 38% (13,994) held a work visa
• 30% (10,835) held a study visa
• 19% (7,048) held a visitor visa
• 13% (4,834) held other forms of leave

Figure 3: Number of people claiming asylum in the UK who entered on a visa or with other leave, by latest leave held prior to claim, YE December 2018 to YE March 2026^{1, 2}

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions - Asy_D01a

Notes:

1. Figures reflect the latest leave held prior to claiming asylum, including those who may have switched visa types after arrival.
2. 鈥極ther leave鈥� includes those who entered on an ETA, family-related visas and permits, or other discretionary reasons.

Figure 3 shows that since 2021, asylum claims from people who originally entered the UK on a visa have increased across all the main visa routes, mirroring the growth in the number of visas issued over the period. However, because the figures reflect an individual鈥檚 most recent leave before claiming asylum rather than visas or leave issued at entry into the UK, they聽are not directly comparable. For context, 412,825 entry clearance study visas and 252,775 entry clearance work visas were issued in the YE March 2026.

In the latest year, the number of people who held a study visa prior to claiming asylum has decreased 30%. This follows the fall in the number of study visas issued following restrictions on dependants that came into effect on 1 January 2024.

In contrast, the number of people who held a work visa prior to claiming asylum has increased 16% in the latest year. This increase can be attributed to higher numbers of visas being granted in previous years, with claims likely to be made as people reach the end of their current leave.

2. Who claims asylum in the UK?

Figure 4: Top 6 nationalities claiming asylum in the UK, YE March 2016 to YE March 2026^{1, 2}

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions 鈥� Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Figure 4 shows the top 6 nationalities (Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sudan) claiming asylum in the YE March 2026.
2. The percentage change shown for each nationality represents the change in the number of people claiming asylum in the YE March 2026 compared to the YE March 2025.

Figure 4 shows the different trends of the nationalities with the largest numbers of asylum claimants in the latest year.

Claims from Afghan nationals rose substantially following the Taliban takeover in August 2021. While the number of Afghans claiming asylum was 47% less than the peak in the YE September 2023, claims remain relatively high in the latest year with 6,197 people claiming. Since October 2021, 36,887 Afghans have claimed asylum in the UK, with the majority of these claimants having arrived in the UK via small boats. A further 37,532 Afghans have also been resettled through the Afghan Resettlement Programme, which began in March 2021.

Pakistan and Bangladesh have both seen an increase in the number of people claiming asylum from their pre-2021 levels. The majority of claimants from both countries hold a visa or other leave before claiming asylum, as shown in Figure 5. These nationalities, as well as India, have also seen a large increase in work and study visa grants since 1 January 2021, following changes to the immigration system.

The remaining nationalities in the top 6, Eritrea, Iran and Sudan, predominantly arrive in the UK via illegal entry routes such as small boats. Claims from Eritrean and Sudanese nationals notably increased in the latest year, rising by 46% and 20% respectively. Other nationalities that also predominantly arrive in the UK via small boats have experienced increases in the latest year. Notably, claims from Somalian nationals increased substantially by 151%, rising from 1,863 to 4,676, while claims from Ethiopian nationals increased by 67%, from 1,165 to 1,946. For these nationalities, the increase in total asylum claims corresponds with increases in small boat arrivals.

By contrast, Syrian claims fell sharply, down 72% from 5,965 to 1,697, following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. Vietnamese claims also experienced a considerable fall with a 56% decrease, from 4,488 to 1,987. The fall in Vietnamese asylum claims has occurred alongside stronger UK鈥揤ietnam returns and deterrence measures.

The largest proportional decreases were seen by Jordanian nationals, with claims falling by 89% from 1,545 to 166, and Colombian nationals, who saw a similar reduction of 88%, declining from 1,586 to 189. The large fall in Jordanian and Colombian asylum claims follow the removal of visa鈥慺ree entry arrangements in 2024.

Figure 5: Top 10 nationalities claiming asylum in the UK in the YE March 2026, by route of entry to the UK¹

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions 鈥� Asy_D01

Notes:

1. 鈥極ther鈥� includes those who arrived through the common travel area without valid permission to enter, are UK-born children of asylum seekers or refugees, or were non-visa nationals visiting the UK, as well as claims which could not be matched to a route of entry.

From 26 March 2026, a non-permanent visa brake has been applied to certain routes and nationalities. This means that student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are now refused, as are Skilled Worker applications from Afghan nationals. This may have some impact on future volumes of asylum claims from these nationalities. The Home Office published an , which examines the relationship between historic visa grants and subsequent asylum claims for each impacted country.

Table 1: Number of people claiming asylum in the UK, in the YE March 2026, by age and sex¹

	Male	Female
Aged 17 and under	9,574 (10%)	5,928 (6%)
Aged 18 and over	57,643 (62%)	20,373 (22%)

Source: Asylum claims and initial decisions 鈥� Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Table 1 excludes figures where age or sex information is unknown.

Of the 15,503 children that claimed asylum in the latest year, 64% (9,995) were aged 13 and under, 10% (1,536) were either 14 or 15, and a further 26% (3,972) were 16 or 17.

The proportion of men, women and children varies across nationalities and may be influenced by the routes taken when travelling to the UK. For example, more dangerous routes (such as crossing the Channel in a small boat) see fewer women and children than other routes (such as travelling to the UK on a visa before claiming asylum).

In the YE March 2026, 4% of claims (3,627) were from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC). These are children who arrive in the UK without a parent or legal guardian to care for them and are entitled to under UK law. Four-fifths (80%) of these children were aged 16 or 17.

Following an asylum claim, an age assessment may be undertaken where there is doubt about a person鈥檚 claimed age and no clear and credible documentary evidence is available. This quarter鈥檚 release reintroduces age assessment statistics published in the chapter 鈥楬ow many people have their age assessed?鈥�.

A small percentage of asylum claims (2% in the YE December 2023) involve individuals seeking protection due to their sexual orientation. For more details on this group see the report on 鈥楢sylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation鈥�. Work is ongoing to produce updated data from 2023 onwards, which is not yet available due to the transition to a new caseworking system, and will be published in a future 鈥业尘尘颈驳谤补迟颈辞苍鈥痵测蝉迟别尘鈥痵迟补迟颈蝉迟颈肠蝉鈥痲耻补谤迟别谤濒测鈥痳别濒别补蝉别鈥�.

3. How does the UK compare with the EU+?

In the YE December 2025, there were 827,765 people claiming asylum in the EU+, 20% fewer than in the previous year. This contrasts with a 4% decrease in the UK over the same period.

Compared with other European countries, the UK received the fifth largest number of asylum seekers in the YE December 2025 (100,625), and the fifteenth largest intake when measured .

Table 2: The number of people claiming asylum in the UK and the top 4 countries in the EU+, YE December 2025

Country of claim	Total number of people claiming (proportion of total claims in the EU+ and UK)	Top nationality claiming asylum (percentage of total for that country)
Germany	168,375 (18%)	Afghanistan (38%)
France	151,650 (16%)	Afghanistan (10%)
Spain	143,700 (15%)	Venezuela (59%)
Italy	133,435 (14%)	Bangladesh (21%)
United Kingdom	100,625 (11%)	Pakistan (11%)

Source: and Asylum claims and initial decisions 鈥� Asy_D01

The number and demographic profile of people claiming asylum varies across Europe with some nationalities claiming more in certain countries. This may be linked to factors including language, existing diasporas in these countries, the routes taken to reach them, and the likelihood of being granted refugee permission.

Figure 6: The number of people claiming asylum in the UK and the top 4 countries in the EU+, YE December 2021 to YE December 2025^{1, 2}

Source: and Asylum claims and initial decisions 鈥� Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Top 4 countries in the EU+ receiving asylum claimants in the YE December 2025.
2. Includes main applicants and dependants.

4. Data tables and further links

Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:

• Asylum data tables
• Illegal entry routes data tables

Further links:

• Statistics on asylum outcomes, year ending March 2026
• Statistics on the UK asylum system, year ending March 2026
• Statistics on age assessments, year ending March 2026
• Illegal entry routes statistics, year ending March 2026
• Statistics on asylum claims from small boat arrivals, 2025
• Safe and legal (humanitarian) routes statistics, year ending March 2026
• Migration transparency data
• Migrant journey: 2025 report
• Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation, 2023
• Visa brake: changes to the UK visa system