startnewlife Mendee CIC · London

UK Immigration Statistics

Updated: 21 May 2026
In short

Fresh official figures from the Home Office — every quarter. Here only what matters to you: chances of getting asylum, waiting times, what happens after a refusal.

82,000
Asylum applications per year
41%
Granted protection
was 42% a year earlier
49,000
Pending initial decisions
−24% year on year
41,000
Small boat arrivals

4 topics — pick what matters to you

🛟

Asylum

How many apply, who gets it, how long to wait

  • 82k applications
  • 41% granted protection
  • 49k pending
Open →
🛂

Visas coming soon

Who comes to the UK legally and why

  • 809k visas
  • 168k work
  • 407k study
Coming soon
🪪

Settlement & citizenship coming soon

What happens after asylum: ILR, passport

  • 146k ILR
  • 236k citizenships per year
Coming soon
✈️

Returns coming soon

Who gets deported, who leaves voluntarily

  • 9.9k enforced
  • 28k voluntary
Coming soon

Find your country

Pick a country — see your chances of asylum, the queue and other numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Where do these numbers come from?

All data is from official Home Office publications (UK government). We download them every quarter and rebuild the page. The latest release covers the year ending March 2026, published 21 May 2026. Links to the original are at the bottom of the page.

When is it updated?

Home Office publishes data every quarter — in February, May, August and November. The next update is 28 August 2026 (data for the year ending June 2026).

Which countries are covered?

All 12: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia.

Why does Ukraine have such a low asylum share?

Ukrainians in the UK mostly come through the Homes for Ukraine scheme — a separate route, not asylum. That's why their asylum numbers are low. More details in the Ukraine section.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is a summary of figures. If you need advice on your case, contact an IAA-accredited solicitor. Links to trusted solicitors are at the bottom.

What does 'protection' mean?

It means a positive decision on a case: Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection. They are counted together as 'granted protection'.

Information current
20 May 2026
Next review: 21 Aug 2026

Source: Home Office, release 21 May 2026

🎯 Take the test: your chances
Sources: Home Office — all statistical collectionsCurrent release (March 2026)House of Commons Library — Asylum statisticsMigration Observatory (Oxford) — independent briefings Updated 21 May 2026
⚠️ StartNewLife is an information project — not regulated by the IAA (Immigration Advice Authority). We do not provide immigration advice within the meaning of Section 84 of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999. All content is general information only and does not replace advice from a regulated lawyer (IAA / SRA / BSB) about your specific case.