Asylum in the UK: The facts behind the headlines

Most of us want the same things:

  • safe communities
  • fair systems
  • honest information
  • and people to be treated with dignity

But conversations about asylum can often feel confusing, emotional or polarised.

This page brings together clear facts, straightforward explanations and trusted information about asylum in the UK and Wales — to help people feel better informed about what’s really happening.

Because understanding the bigger picture helps all of us have calmer, more constructive conversations.

How many people claim asylum in the UK?

A total of 100,625 people claimed asylum in the UK in the year ending December 2025, which was 4% less than the previous year. 

That can sound like a large number on its own. But context matters.

Compared with other European countries, the UK received:

  • the 5th highest total number of asylum applications
  • but only the 15th highest per head of population

Most people displaced by war or persecution are actually hosted by countries neighbouring conflict zones — often countries with far fewer resources than the UK.

Understanding scale and context can help move conversations away from fear and towards informed discussion.

Why do people seek asylum?

People seek asylum because they believe returning home would put them in danger.

Many are fleeing:

  • war and armed conflict
  • political persecution
  • torture
  • religious persecution
  • trafficking
  • violence against women and girls
  • threats linked to sexuality, ethnicity or beliefs

For many families, leaving home is not a decision made lightly. It often means leaving behind careers, homes, loved ones and communities in search of safety.

Most people would hope for protection if their own family faced similar circumstances.

How do people arrive in the UK?

Many people ask why some asylum seekers risk dangerous journeys, including crossing the Channel in small boats.

For people fleeing war, persecution or violence, there is currently no general visa they can apply for simply because they need safety.

Unlike tourists, students or workers, people escaping danger often cannot safely access the documents, embassies or official processes needed to travel through regular routes.

Some people are forced to leave quickly. Others may already be in danger because of their political views, religion, ethnicity, sexuality or the conflict happening around them.

This means many people seeking asylum have very limited safe and legal ways to reach a country where they can ask for protection.

UK Government figures show that:

  • around half of people claiming asylum entered through irregular routes, including small boats
  • around 39% had previously arrived legally using visas or other permission to enter the UK

Under international law, people have the right to seek asylum, including if they arrive through irregular routes.

There is no single “type” of asylum seeker. People arriving in the UK include families, children and people escaping very different situations around the world.

The asylum system exists to assess these claims and decide who needs protection.

How does the asylum system work?

When someone applies for asylum, the Home Office looks at their case and decides whether they qualify for protection under UK and international law.

In 2025:

  • around 135,000 decisions were made on asylum claims
  • around 42% of applicants were granted protection at the first decision stage

This means tens of thousands of people were recognised as unsafe to return home.

Some people who are refused asylum at first decision go on to appeal.

Appeals are an important part of the asylum system because these decisions can be life-changing and complex. In some cases, new evidence becomes available, legal mistakes are identified, or the Home Office later changes its original decision.

At the end of December 2025:

  • more than 100,000 people were waiting for an asylum appeal outcome
  • this was larger than the number waiting for an initial decision
  • the appeals backlog had increased significantly compared with the previous year

Recent figures also show:

  • around 36% of asylum appeals were successful
  • when cases reconsidered by the Home Office before a hearing are included, the overall success rate rises to around 66%
  • more than 40% of decisions were withdrawn before appeal hearings, often because the Home Office accepted the original decision was wrong and later granted protection
  • the average wait for an appeal hearing had risen to around 63 weeks

These figures highlight how complicated and pressured the asylum system has become — both for the people going through it and for the services managing decisions and appeals.

Like many public systems, delays can create uncertainty for everyone involved. Recent figures show the number of people waiting for an initial decision has started to reduce, but large backlogs still remain within the appeals system.

What about asylum accommodation?

People seeking asylum who do not have somewhere safe to live can receive accommodation and basic financial support while their case is being processed.

At the end of 2025:

  • around 107,000 people were receiving asylum support across the UK

In Wales:

  • around 3,500 people were receiving asylum support

People receiving asylum support usually receive accommodation and around £49 per week for essentials like food, toiletries and clothing.

Most people waiting for an asylum decision are not allowed to work while their claim is being processed.

Many people are surprised by how small the numbers are in Wales, particularly when compared with public perceptions or media coverage. Having accurate local information can help communities feel more informed and less anxious about what is happening in practice