Accredited official statistics

How many people are returned from the UK?

Published 27 August 2026

Back to ‘Immigration system statistics, year ending June 2026’ contents page

This release goes up to the year ending (YE) June 2026. The “year ending” period includes the 12 months up to and including the YE month. For example, YE June 2026 includes the 12 months between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.

1. Returns

Over 40,000 returns from the UK were recorded in the YE June 2026 (including both enforced and voluntary returns). This is an 8% increase on the 37,500 returns in the same period 12 months prior.

The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have a legal right to stay in the UK to another country. Returns are reported in 3 main groups:

• enforced returns include people subject to administrative removal or deportation action which is carried out by the Home Office
• voluntary returns include people who were liable to removal action or subject to immigration control but have left of their own accord, sometimes with support from the Home Office
• port returns include people who are refused entry to the UK at a place of arrival and have subsequently departed

Of the 40,605 returns from the UK in the latest year, three-quarters (76%) returned voluntarily and one-quarter (24%) were enforced by the Home Office. In addition to those returned from the UK, 18,646 were refused entry on arrival and subsequently departed (‘port returns’) (see Section 4).

Foreign national offenders (FNOs) and asylum-related returns (including failed asylum seekers) can appear in enforced, voluntary and port return statistics. Returns of small boat arrivals are included in voluntary and enforced return statistics. These are counted in those numbers as well as being reported separately in Section 5 and Section 6 respectively.

Figure 1: Returns from the UK, by type of return, YE December 2010 to YE June 2026

Source: Returns - Ret_D01

2. Enforced returns

The number of enforced returns in YE June 2026 is up from the previous year, continuing an increase year on year since 2021.

There were 9,669 enforced returns recorded in YE June 2026, 7% higher than the previous year (9,077). Figure 1 shows that enforced returns have increased steadily following the low number of returns during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

The increase in enforced returns has been partially driven by increases in asylum-related returns (see Section 6). Other factors driving the increase include returns agreements with countries outside the UK and schemes to remove foreign offenders (see Section 5). The UK-France Agreement on the prevention of dangerous journeys has enabled additional enforced returns of small boat arrivals to a safe country (see Section 6.1 for more detail). For more information on these, please see the policy timeline document.

Albanian nationals have consistently been the most common nationality for enforced returns over the last 5 years, accounting for 21% in the latest 12 months. This is partially attributed to the prominence of Albanian FNO returns over the same period, (accounting for 25% of all FNO returns in the latest year), which make up a substantial proportion of enforced returns (See Section 5), in addition to withdrawn and refused asylum claims (see Section 6) and returns of Albanian small boat arrivals. Enforced returns of Albanian nationals increased following the signing of the UK Albanian Joint Communique in December 2022, which was a response to the high numbers of Albanian small boat arrivals in 2022 (see the ‘How many people come to the UK via illegal entry routes?’). Despite their prominence, there was a 22% decrease (from 2,567 to 2,013) in enforced returns of Albanians the YE June 2026 compared with the previous year.

Romanian nationals accounted for 16% of enforced returns in the latest year, with many being FNO returns. There were 1,521 enforced returns of Romanians from the UK in the YE June 2026, down by 10% compared to the previous year. Enforced returns of Brazilians have also decreased in the YE June 2026, by 22% to 667.

Figure 2: Enforced returns from the UK, by nationality¹; YE June 2022 to YE June 2026

Source: Returns - Ret_D01

Notes:

1. Nationalities shown are the top 5 most common nationalities for enforced returns in the latest 12-month period.

3. Voluntary returns

Voluntary returns from the UK in the YE June 2026 surpassed 30,000, the highest number in over 10 years, driven by asylum related returns and returns assisted by the Home Office.

These statistics categorise voluntary returns in 3 different ways: those made with assistance from the Home Office, including via the Voluntary Returns Service (‘assisted returns’); returns made where the Home Office was notified of the departure, in the form of self-funded (‘controlled’) returns; and those discovered through matching our database against passenger departures data (‘other verified returns’). Definitions of returns subcategories can be found in the glossary section of the user guide.

In YE June 2026, there were 30,936 voluntary returns, an increase of 9% compared with the YE June 2025. This was partly driven by an increase in asylum-related voluntary returns (up 10%). As shown in Figure 1, voluntary return numbers have risen substantially since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, voluntary returns of Indians (10,226), Brazilians (4,892) and Albanians (1,888) accounted for just over half (55%) of all voluntary returns in YE June 2026. Indian voluntary returns increased by 27%, of which, almost two-thirds departed the UK without informing the Home Office (‘other verified returns’). Voluntary returns of Brazilian nationals remain high but have seen a 3% decrease in the YE June 2026 compared with the previous year. Voluntary returns of Albanians also decreased by 25% over the same period.

‘Assisted returns’ are up 19% in the YE June 2026. ‘Assisted returns’ made up 36% of all voluntary returns, of which two-fifths (40%) were Brazilian nationals. ‘Controlled’ returns have increased by 13%.

‘Other verified returns’ (those who departed the UK without informing the Home Office) were unchanged in the same period, but make up 44% of all voluntary returns, which is the largest proportion of the return types within voluntary returns.

4. Refusals of entry at port and subsequent return (port returns)

Port returns have declined over the last 3 years, following a sharp increase between 2020 and 2023.

There were 18,646 port returns in the YE June 2026, 11% fewer than the previous year. The decline in port returns over the last 3 years follows what was a sharp increase following 2020 when most forms of travel were more viable after restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic were eased.

UK Border Force take decisions to stop passengers on arrival based on the information that they receive and may subsequently refuse entry to the UK if they are not satisfied that an individual is a genuine visitor. Nationality does not play a part in these decisions, but the nationalities of those refused entry at ports and subsequently returned has changed since 2020.

Non-visa nationals (NVNs) do not require a visit visa to travel to the UK for visits lasting up to 6 months. Instead, they are eligible for and require, an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), an advanced digital permission, prior to travel as a visitor. Nationalities listed in the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor visa national list require a visa prior to travelling to the UK as a visitor.

Of the top 10 most common nationalities for port returns, 8 were NVNs in the YE June 2026. This includes Romanian (EU) nationals who have been the most common nationality since 2012, accounting for 26% of all port returns in the YE June 2026. The volume of port returns of Romanians has fallen more than any other nationality, by 28% (from 5,986 to 4,286).

Colombian port returns were down 86% (from 459 to 64) and Jordanian port returns have fallen by 98% (from 298 to 7). These large drops in port returns from both nationalities reflect the introduction of visit visa impositions in 2024.

5. Returns of foreign national offenders

Total FNO returns include enforced, voluntary and port returns. FNOs that are returned may have arrived in the UK some years earlier, may have claimed asylum and may have lived in the UK for some time prior to their conviction and subsequent return.

Returns of FNOs in the YE June 2026 are the highest observed since 2017.

There were 5,962 FNO returns in the YE June 2026, an increase of 12% compared with the previous year.

The most common nationalities for FNO returns in the YE June 2026 are Albanian, Romanian and Polish nationals, (See Figure 3). However, it is the other nationalities that comprise the rest of the top 10 that are driving the increase in the latest year compared with the YE June 2025. Most notably, Brazilian nationals up 109%, Portuguese nationals up 94% and Bulgarian nationals up 44%.

EU nationals account for just over half (52%) of all FNO returns, but Figure 3 shows that Albanian nationals (non-EU) have been the most common nationality for FNO returns in each of the last 5 years. The UK-Albania Joint Communique signed in December 2022 strengthened cooperation between the UK and Albania and has supported the removal of Albanian national offenders. The majority (81%) were convicted of drug-related offences.

Albanian, Polish and Romanian nationals are the most common foreign nationalities in prisons (aside from Irish nationals who are not generally subject to removal) according to the latest prison population statistics from the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service.

The most common crimes committed by FNOs that were returned in the YE June 2026 were drug related offences (2,285), accounting for nearly two-fifths (38%) of all FNO returns. Theft offences was the next most common offence group, accounting for 13% of FNO returns. More than half (53%) of FNOs returned during the YE June 2026 were sentenced to prison terms of 2 years or over.

The Early Removal Scheme (ERS), introduced in 2004, enables FNOs to be returned earlier in their custodial sentence. In January 2024, the scheme was extended to include FNOs who had up to 18 months remaining on their sentence, rather than 12 months or less. In September 2025, this was further expanded to allow removal up to 4 years before custodial release date, subject to having served 30% of the sentence, increasing the pool eligible for early return.

The Standard Determinate Sentence 40% (SDS40) scheme was introduced in September 2024 as a temporary measure allowing eligible offenders to be conditionally released after 40% of their sentence, rather than 50%. For FNOs, ERS applies to this reduced term, meaning removal can occur even sooner.

In addition, the Facilitated return scheme (FRS) is a voluntary Home Office scheme established in 2006 which supports FNOs to leave the UK at the earliest possible opportunity and resettle in their home country, encouraging FNOs to cooperate with early removal.

For more information on changes to rules relating to returns, see the policy timeline document. For ERS return statistics, please see the ‘Returns from the UK and enforcement activity’ ad hoc statistical release.

Figure 3: Returns of FNOs¹ from the UK, by nationality²; YE June 2022 to YE June 2026

Source: Returns - Ret_D03

Notes:

1. An FNO is someone who is not a British citizen and is, or was, convicted in the UK of any criminal offence, or convicted abroad for a serious criminal offence.
2. Nationalities shown are the top 5 nationalities for FNO returns in the latest 12-month period.

Returns of FNOs averaged around 5,500 per year during the period from 2010 to 2019. FNO returns reached a peak in 2016 at 6,437, subsequently falling to below 3,000 per year in 2020 to 2021. Since then, returns of FNOs have been gradually increasing, although in the latest year were still 7% below the 2016 peak.

6. Asylum-related returns

Asylum-related returns relate to cases where there has been an asylum claim or further submission at some stage prior to the return. This will include asylum seekers whose asylum claims have been withdrawn, refused and who have exhausted any rights of appeal, those returned under third-country provisions, as well as a small number of those granted asylum/protection but who had to be removed for other reasons, (such as criminality).

In this section, asylum-related returns include enforced and voluntary returns, unless stated otherwise.

Asylum-related returns in the YE June 2026 have risen from the previous year, continuing the sharp upward trend observed since 2021.

In the YE June 2026, there were 12,568 asylum-related returns, 14% more than in YE June 2025. Nearly a third (31%) of total enforced and voluntary returns were asylum-related – a proportion that has risen steadily from 15% in 2021. Asylum-related returns in the YE June 2026 are the highest volume in this statistical series (starting YE December 2010).

Observed volumes of asylum-related returns, including the nationalities returned, may partially reflect changes in asylum decision-making. In the YE June 2026, there was a 23% increase in asylum claims resulting in refusals. Individuals with withdrawn or refused applications who have exhausted any rights of appeal may have no “leave to remain” and the Home Office will seek their return from the UK. For more information on trends in asylum case processing, please see the ‘How many people are granted asylum in the UK?’ topic.

Albanians, Indians, and Brazilians have relatively high withdrawal and refusal rates from asylum applications. Albanian nationals are the most common nationality for asylum-related returns accounting for just over a fifth (21% or 2,582) in YE June 2026, however these returns are down by 28% compared with the previous year. Brazilian nationals are the next most common nationality and have increased by 4% (from 1,575 to 1,637). Returns of Indian and Pakistani nationals who have claimed asylum have also increased in the YE June 2026. Vietnamese asylum-related returns have increased by 73% over the last year (from 145 to 251) this follows the new comprehensive strategic partnership between the UK and Vietnam. Asylum related returns of Eritrean, Syrian and Iranian nationals has also increased significantly, likely due to the increase in returns of small boat arrivals, as a majority of small boat arrivals claim asylum upon arrival to the UK.

Figure 4: Asylum-related returns from the UK; YE December 2010 to YE June 2026

Source: Subset of data in Returns - Ret_05

6.1. Returns of small boat arrivals

Small boat arrivals returned from the UK are up from last year, continuing an increasing trend since 2018.

In the YE June 2026, there were 3,310 returns of people who had arrived to the UK by small boat, 35% more than the previous year, with the latest quarter being the highest on record. This increase follows the introduction of the UK-France Agreement on the prevention of dangerous journeys which came into effect in August 2025 following the signing of a treaty by the UK and French Interior Ministers. This treaty enables the return of arrivals from the UK to France, with an equal number of individuals eligible to come to the UK through a new legal route. Returns via this agreement are enforced by the Home Office, contributing to the overall increase in enforced returns reported in Section 2. Data on returns by month since the commencement of operational delivery of the treaty (6 August 2025 to 30 June 2026) are published in the ‘Transfers into and returns from the United Kingdom under the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys’.

A total of 9,694 people who arrived on a small boat between 2018 and the YE June 2026 have been returned from the UK. A vast majority of small boat arrivals claim asylum and there will be a period of time for their claim to be assessed, prior to it being known whether they will be subject to return. More than half of all small boat arrival asylum applications since 2018 have been refused or withdrawn. Further information about small boat arrivals can be found in the ‘How many people come to the UK via illegal entry routes?’ chapter.

Of the returns of small boat arrivals in the latest year, 40% were Albanian nationals (Figure 5). The number of Albanian small boat returns has decreased compared to the previous year, mirroring the decline in Albanian arrivals via this illegal entry route. Turkish (269) and Eritrean (230) nationals are the next 2 most common nationalities of small boat arrivals returned from the UK, together accounting for a further 15% of small boat returns in the YE June 2026.

See Home Office ‘Country returns guides’ for more information on the returns process for individual countries of origin.

Figure 5: Returns of small boat arrivals of Albanians and other nationalities, by quarter of return, January 2018 to June 2026 {#fig-5}

Source: Subset of data in Returns - Ret_06b

The underlying data systems on which measures of arrivals to the UK via illegal entry routes is based are undergoing a process of change. As the department works through this transition, some recent data is unavailable for inclusion. As a result, return of small boat arrivals may be subject to revisions in future releases.

7. About the statistics

The latest 7 quarters of data are revised in each release. Therefore, the most recent quarters should be considered provisional.

Provisional numbers have been published on Returns from the UK and illegal working activity to the end of January 2026.

Data on voluntary returns is subject to upward revision, so comparisons over time should be made with caution. In some cases, 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. ‘Other verified returns’ are particularly affected by this. Further details on the revisions can be found in the returns section of the user guide.

The statistics in this section show the number of returns from the UK. One individual may have been returned more than once in a given period and, if that was the case, would be counted more than once in the statistics.

The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have a legal right to stay in the UK. This includes people who:

• enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering by means of deception on entry)
• are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction
• overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK
• breach their conditions of leave
• have been refused asylum

The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

Data on offence group and sentence length group of returned FNOs is classified as ‘official statistics in development’. They are based on information from Home Office administrative systems, some of which are derived from caseworkers interpreting information held on Police National Computer records. We are developing how we collect the data and produce the statistics to improve their quality. See the user guide for more details.

8. Data tables

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

• Returns summary tables
• Detailed returns datasets

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