UK asylum applications drop 21% year-on-year, lowest since 2022

The United Kingdom has seen a significant reduction in asylum applications, with a 21% decrease recorded between June 2025 and June 2026. This brings the annual total to its lowest point since 2022, a development the Labour government has welcomed.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed satisfaction with the figures, stating in a press release, "This government is restoring control over our borders and the fairness of the immigration system." She highlighted that since the Labour party took power in July 2024, asylum caseloads have decreased, the number of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen, illegal working arrests have reached record highs, and removals and returns have significantly increased.

Despite these positive trends, Mahmood cautioned that efforts must continue, stating, "But we will not relax our efforts and must do even more." The number of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels, a contentious issue, has been halved to 16,021, the lowest figure since 2022. This figure had peaked at 56,018 in 2023, sparking nationwide protests.

The government is committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers by 2029, planning to relocate them to former military bases, though this initiative faces local opposition. Similar to previous Conservative administrations, the current Labour government has introduced measures aimed at curbing immigration, with a proposed parliamentary reform seeking to tighten asylum laws. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 42,394 individuals were granted refugee status or other forms of residency permits following initial decisions on their asylum claims.