UK Removed One in Six Rejected Asylum Seekers in 2025, Figures Show

Fewer than one in six rejected asylum seekers were removed from the UK in 2025, according to an analysis of official figures by the Conservative Party. The analysis showed that 11,631 failed asylum seekers were returned out of 80,264 refusals, a rate of just under 15 percent. Of these, 3,432 were enforced removals, while the rest left voluntarily, some with payments of up to £3,000.

the end of 2025, 4,577 asylum seekers whose claims and appeals had been rejected remained in taxpayer-funded accommodation, including 340 in hotels. These individuals were among 107,003 asylum seekers housed by the state. Failed asylum seekers can receive accommodation if deemed destitute.

The largest group of failed asylum seekers in the UK are from Pakistan, with 10,853 refusals in 2025 but only 445 returns. Nearly 200 failed Pakistani asylum seekers were in state-funded accommodation as of December 2025.

Vietnam, 203 failed asylum seekers were returned out of 2,856 refusals, a rate of 7 percent. For Iraq, 306 out of 2,968 were returned, just over 10 percent. All these countries have formal returns agreements with the UK intended to facilitate the process.

The Conservative Party analysis noted that Britain has returns deals with 19 countries, some accepting as few as 4 percent of failed asylum seekers.

sources stated that the number of people without legal status to be removed has increased under the current administration. In 2025, 37,918 failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals were returned, a 9 percent increase from 2024 and the highest since 2017.

However, only about a quarter of these were enforced removals, with the remainder voluntary. In March 2026, the home secretary launched a trial scheme offering incentive payments up to £10,000 per person or £40,000 per family to encourage voluntary returns.

The pilot targets 150 families in state-funded accommodation and could save up to £20 million if successful, according to Home Office estimates. The Home Office reported that nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals have been removed since the 2024 election, up nearly a third from the prior 19 months.

Philp, the shadow home secretary, stated that the current pace of removals would take decades to clear backlogs for certain nationalities. He added that the Conservative Party plans to speed up removals by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and other treaties to enable quicker deportations.

The Home Office stated it has taken action against non-cooperating countries, including visa penalties, and is reforming human rights laws to prevent appeals that delay removals.