National statistics

How many people do we grant protection to?

Published 24 November 2022

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Data relate to the year ending September 2022 and all comparisons are with the calendar year 2019 (unless indicated otherwise), reflecting a comparison with the period prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Year ending comparisons that follow will include impacts resulting from the restrictions in place during this period of the pandemic.

An asylum application may relate to more than one person, if the applicant has family members (or ‘dependants’) which they request to be covered by the same application. This release features data on both the number of asylum applications or initial decisions (‘main applicants only’), and the number of people related to asylum applications and initial decisions (‘main applicants and dependants’).

Small boat arrivals accounted for 41% of asylum applications in the year ending September 2022. More information on asylum claims from small boat arrivals can be found in the Irregular Migration to the UK, year ending September 2022, Home Office report.

1. People granted protection and other leave through asylum and resettlement routes

This section covers individuals offered leave to remain in the UK via 3 routes: applying for asylum, resettlement, and family reunion visas.

The UK offered protection, in the form of refugee status, humanitarian protection, alternative forms of leave (such as discretionary leave) and resettlement, to 17,378 people (including dependants) in the year ending September 2022. Of these:

• 14,773 were granted refugee status following an asylum application
• 956 were granted humanitarian protection
• 258 were granted alternative forms of leave (such as discretionary leave, UASC leave)
• 1,391 were resettled to the UK through resettlement schemes

Additionally, 4,786 partners and children of refugees living in the UK were granted entry to the UK through family reunion visas, around a third (36%) fewer than the number in 2019, the year prior to the pandemic.

The number of people offered protection in the year ending September 2022 (either following an application for asylum or through an established resettlement scheme) has returned to previous levels seen between 2015 and 2018 but is 16% lower than the peak in 2019 before the pandemic.

The figure for the year ending September 2022 is particularly affected by resettlement numbers, which currently remain below pre-pandemic levels. However, the resettlement figures in this release do not yet include data relating to the individuals relocated under Pathway 1 and Pathway 3 of the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) or Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). Statistics on these schemes will be included in future editions of Immigration Statistics. For further information on ACRS and ARAP, see the Resettlement section below.

Figure 1: People granted refugee status and other protection, resettlement and family reunion visas in the UK, years ending September 2013 to September 2022^1,2,3,4

Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D02

Notes:

1. In this chart, ‘Grants of refugee status and other protection’ are grants that resulted from an asylum application. These include grants of refugee status and other grants where the individual does not meet the criteria for refugee status (for example, humanitarian protection, discretionary leave, grants under family and private life rules, leave outside the rules and UASC leave).
2. The data on grants of refugee status and other protection refers to grants at initial decision. The final number of grants following appeal will be higher.
3. Grants of family reunion visas are not included in the ‘Total offered protection’ figure, as the individuals do not receive refugee status.
4. These statistics include both main applicants and dependants.

Figure 1 shows that the number of people granted protection following an application for asylum sharply increased in 2015 and 2016 (during the ‘European migration crisis’) and again just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, after which applications fell sharply.

For resettlement, the number of people resettled rose in 2015 to 2016 to around 5,000 per year after large numbers of Syrians were forced to leave their country and remained around this level until March 2020, when resettlement activity was paused due to the pandemic. In contrast, the number of family reunion visas granted has shown a relatively gradual increase over the years.

The data in this section relating to those granted refugee status or alternative forms of leave includes only those granted at initial decision following an asylum application. However, there will be additional people who receive a grant of protection following an appeal against the initial decision on their application (see outcomes and appeals).

1.1 Resettlement

Note: These numbers currently do not include the full number of people resettled from Afghanistan over the past 2 years (see below). Data on those resettled under Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is included. Data on those resettled under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Pathways 1 and 3 of the ACRS are not included at this time.

For further information on ARAP and the ACRS Pathways, see the user guide.

Work is underway to ensure information relating to all the individuals relocated under these schemes are recorded on case working systems. Once this work concludes, further statistics on the ACRS and ARAP will be included in this publication. A factsheet Afghan Resettlement Programme: Operational Data has been published with the latest provisional operational data about the evacuees from Afghanistan.

There were 1,391 people resettled in the year ending September 2022, around one quarter of the number in 2019. Resettlement numbers in these schemes have not yet returned to levels seen for the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS), which was introduced initially in response to the situation of Syrian refugees. From 2016 to 2019, there were 22,842 people resettled, equal to a rate of more than 5,000 per year, predominantly through the VPRS.

In the year ending September 2022:

• 1,882 refugees have been resettled in the UK via the UK Resettlement scheme since the first arrivals in March 2021
• the most common nationalities of those resettled in the year ending September 2022 were Syrian (56%), Sudanese (15%) and Iraqi (11%)

More information about current and previous resettlement schemes can be found in the user guide.

In 2021 (the latest year for which a full year of data is available), the UK resettled almost 1,600 individuals, ranking seventh globally for resettlement in that period. Between 2016 and September 2022, the UK has resettled over 26,000 individuals – the third highest number in the world (after the United States and Canada) and more than any other European country. International resettlement data are sourced from UNHCR, and are accurate as of October 2022.

1.2 Safe and legal routes

The UK government has provided safe and legal entry routes to the UK for a wide variety of people in need of protection, along with their family members. The latest available published statistics show that between 2015 and September 2022, 447,510 people were permitted entry to the UK via the following safe and legal protection routes:

• 28,084 people have been resettled under established refugee resettlement schemes, excluding Afghan schemes, as of the end of September 2022
• an additional 22,833 people have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan (many of which will be resettled under ARAP and ACRS) as of 4 November 2022
• 43,713 family reunion visas have been granted to family members of refugees as of the end of September 2022
• 144,576 BN(O) Hong Kong visas have been granted as of the end of September 2022, 121,193 of which were granted to those out of country
• 208,304 visas have been granted under the Ukraine Visa Schemes and Extension Scheme as of the end of September 2022 (of whom at least 133,500 are known to have arrived in the UK as of 30 September 2022).

More information on the Ukraine visas schemes can be found in the ‘Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK’ chapter and the weekly ‘Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data’ publication.

Further statistics on the number of applications and decisions of those applying to enter or remain in the UK under the ‘Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) route’ are included in the ‘How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)’ section.

Figure 2: People offered protection through safe and legal routes to the UK, total from 2015 to September 2022^1,2,3,4,5,6

Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D02 and Family reunion – Fam_D01

Notes:

1. Includes main applicants and dependants.
2. The Ukraine Scheme visas include visas granted under the Ukraine Family Scheme which launched 4 March 2022, and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme which launched 18 March 2022.
3. BN(O) Hong Kong visa scheme was launched on 31 January 2021.
4. Resettlement includes the UK Resettlement Scheme, Community Sponsorship Scheme, Mandate Scheme, Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 2, Gateway Protection Programme, Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme, and Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Please note that not all of these schemes have been active throughout the entire period.
5. The ARAP was launched April 2021, and the ACRS was launched 6 January 2022.
6. ‘Visas granted’ data provide an indication of the number of people who have an intention to enter the UK rather than actual arrivals. Individuals can arrive at any time during the period that the visa is valid.

2. Asylum applications

There were 72,027 asylum applications (relating to 85,902 people) in the UK in the year ending September 2022. This is over double the number of applications in 2019 and the highest number for almost 2 decades.

As shown in Figure 3, it is higher than at the peak of the European migration crisis (when in year ending June 2016 there were 36,546 applications). It is, however, 14% lower than the number of asylum applications in the previous peak in 2002 (84,132 applications), a figure which was partly driven by conflict and political unrest at that time in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Somalia.

Figure 3: Asylum applications lodged in the UK, years ending September 2002 to September 2022 ¹

Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement –Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Main applicants only.

The increase in applications in the year ending September 2022 is likely linked to a sharp increase in small boat arrivals to the UK. In the year ending September 2022, 90% of small boat arrivals (31,891) claimed asylum or were recorded as a dependant on an asylum application. For further information on small boat arrivals, see the Irregular Migration to the UK, year ending September 2022, Home Office report.

Asylum applications fell substantially in April to June 2020, following the initial COVID-19 outbreak. However, since July to September 2021, the number of applications received has been substantially higher than levels seen prior to the outbreak. There were 24,511 applications for asylum in July to September 2022, over 2.5 times the number of applications in the same period in 2019, and the highest in any quarter since the recording of quarterly applications began in 2001.

2.1 Applications by nationality

Albania was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK in the year ending September 2022 - the UK received 13,650 asylum applications from Albanian nationals, 6,624 of which originated from small boat arrivals (more information on asylum claims from small boat arrivals can be found in the Irregular Migration to the UK, year ending September 2022, Home Office report). In the latest quarter, applications from Albanian nationals more than doubled from the previous quarter (from 3,082 to 7,561). The majority of these Albanian applicants in the latest quarter (82%) were adult males. In every year between 2016 and the year ending June 2022, Iran was the top nationality claiming asylum in the UK.

Figure 4 shows that the number of applications for the top 10 nationalities have surpassed the numbers seen in the 2 previous years. The top 10 nationalities submitted 20,064 applications in the year ending September 2020, but over 2.5 times that number in the year ending September 2022 (52,921).

Many of the top nationalities in the year ending September 2022 are also the most common nationalities arriving via small boats. Small boat arrivals account for 41% of the total number of people claiming asylum in the year ending September 2022. For further information on small boat arrivals, see the Irregular Migration to the UK, year ending September 2022, Home Office report.

Figure 4: Top 10 nationalities¹ claiming asylum in the UK, years ending September 2020 to September 2022, and grant rate² at initial decision (%), year ending September 2022

Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01 and Asy_D02

Notes:

1. Top 10 nationalities in the most recent year (excluding Stateless); main applicants only.
2. The percentages in the chart are the grant rate at initial decision for each nationality in the most recent year. Grant rate is the proportion of initial decisions which resulted in a grant of protection or other leave.

Figure 4 also shows the grant rate for the top 10 nationalities applying for asylum, half of which have a grant rate above 80% (Iran 82%, Afghanistan 98%, Syria 98%, Eritrea 98%, and Sudan 87%). For more detail on grant rates, see the initial decision section below.

Between January and September 2022, the UK received 360 applications (relating to 548 people) from Ukrainian nationals, related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the vast majority of Ukrainians arriving in the UK will not apply for asylum and will be received under the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Extension Scheme visa routes. The UK Government introduced these new legal migration visa routes for Ukrainian citizens from March 2022. For information on Ukrainian nationals, see the Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK chapter of this release. Further information on the numbers of people arriving through the new Ukraine visa routes are updated regularly on the Ukraine Visa Scheme: visa data page.

2.2 Age and sex of asylum seekers

Of the 85,902 people who applied for asylum in the year ending September 2022, two thirds (64%) were males aged 18 to 49. 22% of applications were from females. Children (under the age of 18) accounted for almost a fifth (17%) of people applying for asylum (see Table 1 below).

Table 1: Individuals applying for asylum as a proportion of the total, by age and sex in the year ending September 2022

Age	Male	Female
Under 18	12%	6%
18-29	42%	7%
30-49	22%	8%
50-69	2%	1%
70+	<1%	<1%

Source: Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01

Notes:

1. Includes main applicants and dependants.
2. Percentages may differ when summed due to rounding.

There were 5,152 applications from unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC), a 36% increase on the number prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (3,775 in 2019). However, UASC applications make up a small proportion of total applications (7% in the year ending September 2022 compared with 11% in 2019).

2.3 International comparisons

In the year ending June 2022, the number of people claiming asylum in the EU+ increased by 58% compared to the year ending June 2021 (from 514,090 to 813,190), whereas in the UK the number nearly doubled over the same period (90%, from 45,318 to 85,902).

In the year ending June 2022, Germany received the highest number of asylum applicants (205,695) in the EU+, followed by France (138,815). When compared with the EU+ for the year ending June 2022, the UK received the fourth largest number of applicants (85,902 – including both main applicants and dependants). This equates to 10% of the total asylum applicants across the EU+ and UK combined over that period, but the 19th largest intake when measured per head of population.

Data cited here are from Eurostat as of October 2022 and relate to the year ending June 2022. These are the latest available comparable statistics and will be subject to revision. The numbers published by Eurostat include dependants. The EU+ refers to countries in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

Figure 5: The number of asylum applicants to the UK and the top 3 countries in the EU+, year ending June 2018 to June 2022 ^1,2,3

Source: Eurostat Asylum statistics, and Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement – Asy_D01 and Asy_D02

Notes:

1. Top 3 countries in the EU+ receiving asylum applicants in the most recent year.
2. Includes main applicants and dependants.
3. Data for the UK is sourced from Home Office data.

Figure 5 shows that over the last 5 years, the UK received fewer applications compared to Germany, France and Spain. Between the year ending June 2018 and the year ending June 2021, the number of applications to the UK remained fairly stable (whereas applications to Germany, France and Spain were both higher and saw larger fluctuations over these years).

Between the year ending June 2021 and the year ending June 2022, the number of applicants to Germany, France and Spain increased by more than a third (35-38%) but the number of applications to the UK almost doubled (increased by 90%) over that period. Other EU+ countries with notable increases can be found in Table 2 below. In Ireland, applications increased from 1,485 to 8,420 (an increase of 467%).

Table 2: EU+ countries experiencing a high percentage increase in asylum applications, year ending June 2021 to June 2022

EU+ country	Applications, year ending June 2021	Applications, year ending June 2022	Percentage change
Poland	3,160	11,195	+254%
Bulgaria	5,415	17,555	+224%
Austria	19,970	60,075	+201%
Netherlands	15,710	34,040	+117%
Cyprus	9,460	20,225	+114%
Italy	34,625	70,790	+104%

Source: Eurostat Asylum statistics

Notes:

1. Includes EU+ countries that received over 10,000 applications in the year ending June 2022, and an increase of over 100% between year ending June 2021 and year ending June 2022.

3. Outcomes of asylum applications

3.1 At initial decision

In the year ending September 2022, there were 16,400 initial decisions made on asylum applications. Although the number of decisions has increased in the last year, they remain 21% below numbers in 2019, before the pandemic.

Just over three quarters (77%) of the initial decisions in the year ending September 2022 were grants of refugee status, humanitarian protection or alternative forms of leave, which is a substantially higher grant rate than in pre-pandemic years when around a third of initial decisions were grants. The grant rate in the year ending September 2022 is the highest grant rate in over 30 years (since 82% in 1990, although volumes were lower at the time, so this amounted to 3,320 grants of asylum or other leave). While the grant rate has increased, this does not mean a larger number of initial decisions are made, but rather a greater proportion of initial decisions are grants of refugee status, humanitarian protection or alternative forms of leave.

In the year ending September 2022, the number of refusals was around two fifths of the number in 2019 (3,819 in the year ending September 2022 compared to 9,970 in 2019). All types of refusals have decreased, including third country refusals (with a 94% decrease, from 1,412 in 2019 to 88 in the year ending September 2022).

The overall grant rate can vary for a number of reasons, including the mix of nationalities applying for asylum, the protection needs of those who claim asylum in the UK, along with operational resourcing and policy decisions. Grant rates vary considerably by nationality as the protection needs of specific groups or individuals differ, usually depending on the situation in their home country. Currently, there are a large number of applications from individuals from recognised countries of conflict. The department are prioritising deciding older claims, high harm cases, those cases with extreme vulnerability, children and those in receipt of support.

Of nationalities that commonly claim asylum in the UK, Afghans, Eritreans and Syrians typically have very high grant rates at initial decision (98% for each), while nationals of India, for example, have low grant rates (4%; see Figure 4). As noted, a significant proportion of the people applying for asylum in the UK at present are from nationalities who are seeing high grant rates. Albania is an exception - it was the top nationality claiming asylum in the year ending September 2022 but the grant rate for Albanian nationals over the same period was lower than the overall grant rate, at 51%.

Within a nationality, the grant rate can also vary. For example, despite the overall grant rate for Albanians in the year ending September 2022 being 51%, for Albanian adult men the grant rate was 13% and for Albanian women and children it was 88%. More information on Albanians can be found in the Irregular Migration to the UK, year ending September 2022, Home Office report.

3.2 At appeal

Some initial decisions (mainly, but not entirely, refusals) will go on to be appealed.

There were 3,543 appeals lodged on initial decisions in the year ending September 2022. This is 61% fewer than in 2019, in part reflecting the smaller number of applications refused in the year ending September 2022, but also continuing a downward trend in numbers of appeals lodged since 2015 (when there were 14,242 appeals lodged).

Of the appeals determined in the year ending September 2022, around half (52%) were allowed (meaning the Home Office was asked to reconsider their decision). The proportion of appeals allowed has risen from 29% in 2010, when the time series began.

3.3 Applications awaiting outcomes

At the end of September 2022, there were 117,400 cases (relating to 143,377 people) awaiting an initial decision, almost 3 times more than the number of applications awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2019 (40,032, relating to 51,228 people). The number of cases awaiting an initial decision has increased in the last 10 years and risen more rapidly since 2018, when there were 27,256 cases awaiting an initial decision at the end of that year.

The rise in cases awaiting an initial decision is due to more cases entering the asylum system than receiving initial decisions. There were fewer initial decisions made in the year ending September 2022 compared to 2019 (down 21%, to 16,400), while asylum applications increased (up by over double, to 72,027 applications).

Data on the total number of cases in the asylum system (‘asylum work in progress’) are published in the ‘Immigration and Protection’ data of the Migration Transparency Data collection. This data includes cases awaiting initial decisions and appeal outcomes, as well as failed asylum seekers that are subject to removal from the UK. The latest data available (for the end of June 2022) shows a total of 166,085 cases as ‘work in progress’ in the asylum system.

Figure 6: Number of applications awaiting an initial decision, as at 30 September 2013 to 2022 ^1,2

Source: Asylum applications awaiting an initial decision – Asy_D03

Notes:

1. Includes main applicants only.
2. Figures reflect the number of people awaiting a decision as at the end of the period, rather than the total throughout the period.

4. Inadmissibility

From 1 January 2021, following the UK’s departure from the EU, new inadmissibility rules came into effect. The inadmissibility rules provide the grounds for treating an asylum claim as inadmissible to the UK asylum system, if a person has earlier presence in, or connection to, a safe third country. It also provides for the person to be removed to that or another safe third country, with that country’s permission.

Between 1 January 2021 and 30 September 2022:

• 20,605 asylum claimants were identified for consideration on inadmissibility grounds
• 18,494 ‘notices of intent’ were issued to individuals to inform them that their case was being reviewed in order to determine whether removal action on inadmissibility grounds was appropriate and possible
• 83 individuals were served with inadmissibility decisions, meaning the UK would not admit the asylum claim for consideration in the UK system, because another country was considered to be responsible for the claim, owing to the claimant’s previous presence in, or connection to a safe country
• there were 21 enforced removals of individuals considered for removal on inadmissibility grounds
• 9,772 individuals were subsequently admitted into the UK asylum process for substantive consideration of their asylum claim

The 21 returns were made to Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

For further information, including breakdowns of the data by quarter and nationality, see Asy_09a and Asy_09b of the summary tables.

5. Support provided to asylum seekers

People in the asylum system who are destitute are entitled to a level of support from the Home Office. This could be the provision of accommodation, subsistence (cash support) or both.

At the end of September 2022, there were 100,547 individuals in receipt of support, 46% higher than at the end of September 2021. This continues the long-term trend of increasing numbers in receipt of support, which grew more rapidly following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Home Office temporarily ceased ending asylum support for those whose claims have been either granted or refused, to ensure people were not made homeless during lockdown. The increase more recently is related to rising asylum applications and the consequent increase in the number of cases in the asylum system.

Of the 100,547 individuals in receipt of support:

• 95% were in receipt of support in the form of accommodation and subsistence
• 5% were in receipt of subsistence only

6. About the statistics

This section provides information on those applying for and granted protection in the UK through both asylum and resettlement routes. Further data relating to asylum and resettlement can be found in our data tables, and further details on the statistics can be found in the user guide.

The data are used to assess the trends in numbers of people seeking and being granted protection, the impact of policy changes, and to understand the demographics of those coming to the UK to claim protection. Data on resettlement and support, broken down by local authority, can help local authorities understand the demands on their services and resources to aid with planning.

6.1 Asylum, resettlement and protection

An asylum applicant (also referred to as ‘asylum seekers’) is someone who makes a claim to be recognised as a refugee under the Refugee Convention and receive protection and assistance. Asylum applicants will receive a decision on their application, which may be a grant of refugee status, humanitarian protection, or another form of permission to stay, or a refusal.

Refugees in other countries can also be given protection in the UK via resettlement schemes. The UK works with the UN Refugee Agency (the UNHCR) to arrange for the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to the UK, with the aim of ultimately granting them permanent residence. The statistics in this release do not include all resettlement of Afghan staff (and their families) who have supported British efforts in Afghanistan, since 2013. This release includes data on resettlement through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme Pathway 2, but does not include resettlement through ACRS Pathway 1, Pathway 3 or through the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy. For further information, see the Home Office Afghan resettlement and immigration policy statement.

A family reunion visa allows partners and children of those previously granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK to reunite with them here.

The total number of individuals granted protection includes grants related to an asylum application (grants of refugee status or alternative forms of leave) and resettlement. Alternative forms of leave include humanitarian protection, discretionary leave, UASC leave, leave outside the rules, and grants under family and private life rules.

Data on asylum applications relate to the period in which the application was lodged, and initial decisions relate to the period in which the decision was made. Initial decisions may, therefore, relate to an application made in an earlier period, and thus the 2 are not directly comparable.

Data on initial decisions will not reflect the total number of people granted refugee status or other protection as some initial decisions may be overturned following appeal. Data on the number of appeals lodged, and their outcomes, are published in Asylum appeals lodged and determined – Asy_D06 and Asy_D07.

UASC data includes those treated as an unaccompanied minor for at least one day between the date of application and the date of initial decision. Some UASC applicants may subsequently be found to be an adult following conclusion of an age dispute. Data on age disputes are published in Age Disputes – Asy_D05.

Eurostat asylum statistics can be used to compare asylum statistics with EU member states. The methodology used to compile Eurostat data differs from that used in this release; see the user guide for further details.

Section 12 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (the ‘2022 Act’), which came into force on 28 June, contains the power to differentiate between 2 groups of refugees (who applied on or after 28 June 2022) and to treat each group differently by offering different entitlements. Such entitlements include but are not limited to length of permission to stay, route to settlement, access to family reunion, and recourse to public funds. Individuals who come to the UK directly, claim asylum without delay, and are able to show good cause for any illegal entry or presence, will be recognised as Group 1 refugees. Those who fail to meet one or more of these requirements will be Group 2 refugees and may be given lesser entitlements as a result. For example, Group 2 refugees are granted a minimum of 30 months permission to stay, compared to a minimum of 5 years for Group 1 refugees. Initial decisions for refugee status will be shown separately in the tables (‘Refugee permission to stay’ for group 1, ‘Temporary refugee permission to stay’ for group 2). For the period up to 30 September 2022 (as covered in this publication), no group 2 decisions under the new Act have been issued, so do not yet appear in the tables.

6.2 Support provided to asylum seekers

The data on support includes support provided under Section 95, Section 98 and Section 4. Further details on these types of support can be found in the user guide.

The data show the number of people in receipt of support on a given day, but do not show the length of time for which someone receives support or the amount of support they receive.

6.3 Inadmissibility

The inadmissibility rules provide the grounds for treating an asylum claim as inadmissible to the UK asylum system, if a person has earlier presence in, or connection to, a safe third country. It also provides for the person to be removed to that or another safe third country, with that country’s permission.

From 1 January 2021, following the UK’s departure from the EU, strengthened inadmissibility rules came into effect. Prior to the UK leaving the EU, most inadmissibility decisions were made according to the Dublin Regulation, which for the cases in its remit, established the criteria and mechanisms for determining which state was responsible for examining an application for international protection. Further details can be found in the user guide.

Data on inadmissibility are taken from internal Home Office management information and should be considered provisional. The data covers the following:

‘Identified for consideration’: Where an asylum case might be suitable for a refusal on inadmissibility grounds, case working teams will review available information to determine whether a case may be appropriate for decisions under the third country inadmissibility provisions in the Immigration Rules. If they assess that inadmissibility action might be appropriate, they will issue an individual with a ‘notice of intent’.

‘Notice of intent issued’: This is an information letter to the claimant, to inform them that their claim is being considered under inadmissibility rules. It is not a formal decision.

‘Inadmissibility decision served’ and ‘Removals’: If the case meets the inadmissibility requirements, and another country accepts the applicants return the Home Office will treat the asylum application as inadmissible under the inadmissibility rules and arrange the return. The returns figures include all enforced removals of those entering the inadmissibility process. Some of these removals may have been for reasons other than inadmissibility. For the total number of asylum-related returns (beyond those in the inadmissibility process), see the Returns summary table Ret_05.

‘Subsequently admitted into UK asylum process’: following consideration on inadmissibility grounds, where there is insufficient evidence to meet the requirements of the inadmissibility rules, or another country has not accepted responsibility for the claim within a reasonable timescale, then the asylum claim will be fully considered in the UK. Cases are counted in our total asylum applications when they initially submit their application, and they are not counted again if they later get subsequently admitted into the UK asylum process following consideration on inadmissibility grounds.

Data on transfers into and out of the UK under the Dublin Regulation (prior to the UK leaving the EU) are available in Dub_D01.

6.4 International comparisons

Please note that Eurostat data are not directly comparable with other Home Office Immigration Statistics data. Eurostat figures combine main applicants and dependants, and as such that is how comparative UK statistics are presented in this section. For a full list of differences between Eurostat and Home Office asylum statistics, see the user guide.

7. Data tables

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

• Asylum and resettlement summary tables
• Detailed asylum and resettlement datasets

Additional data relating to asylum, protection and resettlement published in earlier Immigration Statistics releases include:

• Transfers to the UK under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016
• Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation

Statistics on the number of applications and decisions of those applying to enter or remain in the UK under the new Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) route are included in the ‘How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?’ section.

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