Live — updating every second

—

Asylum Applications This Year

Approximately 84,000 asylum applications are made in the UK each year, according to Home Office Asylum and Resettlement Statistics. The Home Office makes approximately 100,000 asylum decisions per year, of which approximately 65% result in an initial grant of some form of protection and approximately 35% in a refusal.

Asylum seekers are people who have left their home country and are formally asking for recognition as a refugee in the UK. They are not permitted to work while their claim is being processed and are provided with housing and a weekly allowance of approximately £49.18 per week (2024 rate). The cost of supporting asylum seekers is approximately £4.5 billion per year.

Accommodation for asylum seekers includes housing in the private rented sector managed by Home Office contractors, hotels used as contingency accommodation, and converted military sites and barges. Hotel use has been particularly controversial due to cost — approximately £8 million per day at its peak — and the government has sought to reduce reliance on hotels.

Small boat crossings of the English Channel have become a significant issue. In 2023, approximately 29,437 people crossed in small boats — a slight reduction from the peak of approximately 45,000 in 2022. Since 2018 over 100,000 people have made the crossing. The government has sought to deter crossings through the Rwanda policy and bilateral agreements with France.

The backlog of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision stood at over 100,000 at its peak, with some applicants waiting over three years for an outcome. The Home Office has recruited additional decision-makers and reformed processes to reduce the backlog. Reducing waiting times is important both for cost reduction and for the wellbeing of asylum seekers.

Source: Home Office Asylum and Resettlement Statistics · Data year: 2023/24 · All figures are statistical estimates calculated from official annual publications

How many asylum applications are made in the UK each year?

Approximately 84,000 asylum applications are made in the UK each year according to Home Office statistics for 2023/24. The Home Office makes approximately 100,000 decisions per year, granting some form of protection in approximately 65% of cases. The UK receives fewer asylum applications per capita than many comparable European countries including Germany and France.

How much does the UK asylum system cost?

The UK asylum system costs approximately £4.5 billion per year according to Home Office and HM Treasury figures. Hotel accommodation for asylum seekers costs approximately £4 billion annually, with nightly costs per person significantly higher than social housing alternatives. The government has invested in alternative accommodation including converted military sites to reduce hotel costs.

What happens when someone is granted asylum in the UK?

When an asylum seeker is granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, they receive leave to remain for five years and can access mainstream benefits, employment and public services. After five years they can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). They receive a 28-day move-on period from asylum support to arrange mainstream housing and benefits — a period critics argue is insufficient.