Asylum
Valid: 25 August to 24 November 2011
Interpreting the figures
When someone applies for asylum, they are applying for protection from persecution or fear of persecution in their own country. The UK Border Agency then decides whether the application is legitimate. One person (the main applicant) can apply for asylum on behalf of themselves and others (dependants). The Immigration Statistics User Guide provides further details.
This briefing excludes numbers of dependants, unless stated otherwise.
Key facts
The numbers of asylum applications were relatively stable between 2005 and 2009, having fallen substantially from a peak in 2002. These falls coincide with: the introduction in 2002 of a process that prevents certain nationalities from appealing a decision while in the country, the opening of juxtaposed controls in France and Belgium in 2002 and 2004; and the introduction of fast track facilities in 2003. Between 2009 and 2010 applications fell to 17,916. However, there have been small increases in the first half of 2011, mainly due to an increase in asylum applications from nationals of Pakistan and Libya.
In the second quarter of 2011 there were 4,787 asylum applications and 4,253 initial decisions compared to 4,389 asylum applications (up 9%) and 5,106 initial decisions (down 17%) in the second quarter of 2010.
Of the 4,253 initial decisions in the second quarter of 2011, 23% were grants of asylum, 8% grants of a form of temporary protection (humanitarian protection or discretionary leave) and 70% were refusals.
Data tables
Further data on asylum can be found in the following tables:
Asylum applications
Chart notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April – June 2011, Table as.01.
(1) A process that prevents certain nationalities from appealing a decision while in the country (non-suspensive appeals process) was introduced in 2002.
(2) Juxtaposed controls were opened in France and Belgium in 2002 and 2004.
(3) Fast track facilities for asylum applications were introduced in 2003.
Applications
World events have an effect on which nationals are applying for asylum at any particular time. In 2010, nationals of Iran made the most asylum applications, accounting for 1,866 applications or 10% of the 17,916 total; in 2009, it was nationals of Zimbabwe who made the most applications (23%), while in the second quarter of 2011, nationals of Pakistan made 11% of applications. Recent political unrest in Libya appears to have led to a substantial increase in asylum applications from Libyan nationals, with 366 applications for asylum in the second quarter of 2011 compared to just 15 in the second quarter of 2010. A similar trend has emerged for applications from nationals of Bahrain, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Most applications are made by those already in the country – 90% of applications in 2010 – rather than people arriving at a port. Over half of applicants (55%) in 2010 were in the 21 to 34 age bracket and 70% were male.
Initial decisions
Of the 20,261 initial decisions in 2010, 3,488 (17%) were decisions to grant asylum, 1,707 (8%) to grant a form of temporary protection (humanitarian protection or discretionary leave) and 15,066 (74%) were refusals.
In 2010, nationals of Iran received the most initial decisions (2,293) and grants of asylum (569). The proportion of initial decisions for Iranian nationals that were grants of asylum had increased from 11% in 2009 to 25% in 2010 and this was the highest number of asylum grants for nationals of Iran since 2001 (577). The second quarter of 2011 shows a similar picture.
The proportion of applicants granted asylum or a form of temporary protection at initial decision has remained in the range of 22% to 32% since the first quarter of 2007, except for the first quarter of 2009 when the grant rate was 41%. This followed a judicial review where it was ruled that any national of Zimbabwe who could not demonstrate loyalty to the Mugabe regime could not be lawfully removed to that country and almost two-fifths were grants an initial decision were to Zimbabweans.
Considering the nationalities that had more than 10,000 initial decisions made between 2001 and 2010, Afghan nationals had the highest proportion of decisions granted asylum or a form of temporary protection (51%), while Indian nationals had the lowest (2%).
Appeals
In the second quarter of 2011, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service received 2,637 asylum appeals, 29% lower than in the second quarter of 2010 (3,706). During the same period, the number of applicants who had asylum appeals determined decreased by 29% to 2,806. Nationals of Sri Lanka had the most appeals received (317), determined (362), and allowed (141).
In 2010, a total of 13,928 applicants requested asylum appeals, a 3% decrease compared to 2009 (14,340) and 14,723 asylum appeals were determined by Immigration Judges. Data from UK Border Agency sources are currently only available back to 2007, but data published by HM Courts and Tribunals Service suggest that 2010 saw the most cases determined since 2005.
The proportion of appeals dismissed in 2010 was 68%, whilst 27% of appeals were allowed. The remainder of appeal determinations were withdrawals. Nationals of Zimbabwe had the most appeals received (1,747), determined (2,235), and allowed (832); many of these appeals resulted from the large number of Zimbabwe nationals applications in early 2009, although a large proportion of appeals had already been determined in 2009.
Case outcomes
Following through the 17,916 main applicants who applied for asylum in 2010, 6,273 (35%) have been granted asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave at either initial decision or appeal. 10,423 cases were refused; and a further 1,220 were awaiting confirmation of an initial decision when the statistics were compiled. The proportion of applications granted asylum or a form of temporary protection at initial decision or appeal in 2004 was 26%, and had gradually increased year-on-year to 38% in 2009.
Outcome of asylum applications, by year of application
Chart notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics April – June 2011, Table as.06.
The increase in applications and grants of asylum from applications in 2008 and 2009 compared to earlier years is related to the large number of Zimbabwean nationals applying for asylum in late 2008 and early 2009. Of the 5,599 main asylum applicants from Zimbabwe in 2009, 3,095 (55%) have been granted asylum, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave at either initial decision or appeal and 2,366 cases were refused.
Cases pending a decision
At the end of June 2011, 10,881 applications received since April 2006 were pending a decision (initial decision, appeal or further review). Nationals of Afghanistan had the most cases pending a decision and in particular, cases pending an initial decision, while nationals of Sri Lanka were the group with the most cases pending further decisions.
Asylum support
As asylum seekers are not normally allowed to work for the first year while their application is being considered, support (known as Section 95 support) is available. There were 11,600 support applications in 2010, having fallen from a peak of 68,624 in 2002.
At the end of June 2011, 20,855 asylum seekers were in receipt of Section 95 support, of which 3,009 were receiving subsistence only support and 17,846 were supported in dispersed accommodation, with the largest nationality group currently supported being nationals of Pakistan. The numbers in receipt of support has fallen from 80,123 at the end of 2003.
The falls in support applications and numbers receiving support are in line with falling number of asylum applications and the clearance of a backlog of asylum claims from the early part of the decade.
Failed asylum seekers who are destitute and have reasons that temporarily prevent them from leaving are also eligible for support (called Section 4). In 2010, there were 6,621 decisions to grant Section 4 support and at the end of June 2011, there were 2,461 failed asylum seekers, excluding dependants, recorded as being in receipt of this support.
Dependants
In 2010 the 17,916 asylum applications accounted for 22,644 individuals when dependants are included; an average of one dependant for every four main applicants. Most dependants (67%) were under 18 and over half (56%) were female. Nationals of Pakistan had the most asylum dependants (735) in 2010.
In 2010, initial decisions were made relating to 6,187 dependants. Of these, 968 (16%) were granted asylum, 277 (4%) were granted a form of temporary protection and 4,942 (80%) were refused. The latest data suggests a decrease in refusals with 76% of dependants refused at initial decision in the second quarter of 2011.
Unaccompanied asylum seeking children
In 2010, 10% (1,717) of main applicants were Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASCs). Almost a third (31%) of UASC applications were made by male nationals of Afghanistan; and overall 81% (1,398) of applications are from male applicants. UASC applications fell by 46% between 2009 and 2010 and data from the second quarter of 2011 suggests a continued decrease. This decreasing trend has been influenced by falling applications from Afghan nationals.
In 2010, a total of 2,359 initial decisions were made on UASC applications. Despite UASCs only accounting for 12% of all initial decisions, 68% (1,096) of all grants of Discretionary Leave at initial decision were to UASCs aged 17 or under at the time of the decision. Over half (52%) of these were to nationals of Afghanistan.
Other related data
UK Border Agency dispute some asylum applicants’ ages. In 2010, 489 individuals had their age disputed, of which, 32% (186) of age disputed applicants were nationals of Afghanistan.
In addition to those asylum seekers who apply in the United Kingdom, a resettlement scheme is also offered to those who have been referred to UK Border Agency by UNHCR (the UN agency for refugees). In 2010, a total of 718 refugees were resettled in the United Kingdom through this process.
In 2010, there were 1,621 fresh claims, from those who had previously applied for asylum, an increase of 79% compared to 2009 (905).
Including dependants, the estimated total number of asylum applications to the 27 European Union countries was 241,100 in 2010. Numbers of asylum applications across the EU fell in 2010 for the first time since 2006. When the relative size of resident populations of the 27 EU countries is taken into account, the United Kingdom ranked 13th in terms of asylum seekers per head of population in the second quarter of 2011. In terms of total asylum applications, having had the most applications in the first quarter of 2009, the United Kingdom’s ranking has dropped to 5th in the second quarter of 2011. France received the most asylum applications in the second quarter of 2011.
Numbers of asylum applicants removed are available in the ‘Removals and voluntary departures’ topic.
Date: Thu Aug 25 09:30:00 BST 2011