Transparency data

Returns from the UK between 1 July 2024 and 31 July 2026

Updated 19 August 2026

This note provides an overview of the number of foreign national offenders (FNOs) and others without lawful status who have been returned from the UK between 1 July 2024 and 31 July 2026. It is intended to provide the public with clear and timely statistics in an area of high public interest.

The data summarised in this note is provisional and taken from live operational systems. The next immigration system statistics quarterly release will be published on 27 August 2026, providing comprehensive statistics on the number of returns from the UK.

Returns since July 2024 (1 July 2024 to 31 July 2026)

Between 1 July 2024 and 31 July 2026, a total of 80,286 returns were recorded (including both enforced and voluntary returns).

The total number for the 25-month period ending July 2026 includes 19,622 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK.

Of the total returns in the 25-month period ending July 2026, 11,733 were foreign national offenders (FNOs), FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns.

Within the FNO returns, there have been 5,995 early removal scheme (ERS) returns.

Of the total returns in the 25-month period ending July 2026, 24,471 were asylum related returns (asylum returns include both enforced and voluntary returns). 

Of the total returns in the 25-month period ending July 2026, 6,103 were returns of people who arrived via small boat (small boat arrival returns include both enforced and voluntary returns). 

From 1 July 2024 to 31 July 2026 there have been 163 charter flights for returns to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Returns in the two years since July 2024 (1 July 2024 to 30 Jun 2026)

In the two years between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026, a total of 78,137 returns were recorded (including both enforced and voluntary returns). This is a 52% increase on the 51,542 returns recorded in the two years prior (1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024), this figure can be obtained from Ret_D01 in the immigration system statistics quarterly release published on 21 May 2026.

Returns in the latest 12 months (1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026)

In the twelve months between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026, a total of 39,690 returns were recorded (including both enforced and voluntary returns). This is a 5% increase on the 37,713 returns in the same period 12 months prior.

The total number for the year-ending July 2026 includes 9,679 enforced returns of people with no legal right to remain in the UK. This compares with 9,238 enforced returns in the same period 12 months prior, an increase of 5%. 

Of the total returns in the year-ending July 2026, 5,928 were of foreign national offenders (FNOs). This is an increase of 11% compared to the 5,363 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior (FNO returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

Within the FNO returns, there have been 3,141 early removal scheme (ERS) returns, which is a 20% increase compared to the 2,615 in the same period 12 months prior.

Of the total returns in the year-ending July 2026, 12,412 were asylum related returns. This is an increase of 10% compared to the 11,264 asylum returns in the same period 12 months prior (asylum related returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

Of the total returns in the year-ending July 2026, 3,427 were returns of people who arrived via small boat. This is an increase of 39% compared to the 2,458 small boat arrival returns in the same period 12 months prior (small boat arrival returns include both enforced and voluntary returns).

From 1 August 2025 to 31 July 2026 there have been 91 charter flights for returns to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Returns since July 2024

Month/Year	Total	Of which: Enforced returns	Of which: Voluntary (including Other Verified) returns	Foreign National Offender returns	Of which: Early Removal Scheme returns	Asylum related returns	Small boat arrival returns
Jul-24	2,883	705	2,178	442	239	795	218
Aug-24	3,351	672	2,679	435	232	923	197
Sep-24	2,940	696	2,244	422	224	757	170
Oct-24	2,936	745	2,191	462	274	773	173
Nov-24	3,132	829	2,303	463	222	927	192
Dec-24	3,322	810	2,512	481	228	974	189
Jan-25	3,330	751	2,579	380	173	961	217
Feb-25	2,959	727	2,232	370	159	865	189
Mar-25	3,352	843	2,509	484	204	1,024	209
Apr-25	2,980	785	2,195	418	227	1,027	229
May-25	3,099	796	2,303	468	227	957	228
Jun-25	3,079	761	2,318	476	219	1,006	227
Jul-25	3,233	823	2,410	504	226	1,070	238
Aug-25	3,518	819	2,699	448	217	1,059	220
Sep-25	3,185	760	2,425	436	211	1,004	171
Oct-25	3,648	1,019	2,629	609	393	1,096	276
Nov-25	3,649	1,045	2,604	619	429	1,108	306
Dec-25	3,618	845	2,773	496	285	1,186	301
Jan-26	3,651	786	2,865	478	251	996	249
Feb-26	3,442	693	2,749	492	244	984	223
Mar-26	3,021	673	2,348	479	210	873	222
Apr-26	3,568	724	2,844	450	213	1,101	311
May-26	3,221	758	2,463	478	232	1,106	416
Jun-26	3,020	788	2,232	469	232	1,060	421
Jul-26	2,149	769	1,380	474	224	839	311

Notes

The data and statistics contained within this notice are provisional and taken from live operational systems on 4 August 2026 and as a result, figures are subject to further revision and change. 

Some individuals who have been told to leave the UK will not notify the Home Office of their departure from the UK. In such cases, it can take some time for the Home Office to become aware of such a departure and update the system. As a result, data for more recent periods will initially undercount the total number of returns and will increase as additional cases are retrospectively recorded. ‘Other verified returns’ (a subset of voluntary returns) are particularly affected by this. For this reason, comparisons of more recent periods to earlier periods should be made with caution.

The Home Office publishes comprehensive statistics on immigration enforcement activity, including the number of returns, in its immigration system statistics quarterly release.