Q2 2018 Asylum Stats
The immigration statistics for the second quarter, April to June, of 2018 (Q2) have been released today. Key asylum figures are below and you can find the data tables here. See also our Facts and Figures page.
Applications:
- In Q2 of 2018 there were 6,584 asylum applications, compared to 6,713 om Q1.
- In the last year (2017 Q3 – 2018 Q2) there were 27,044 asylum applications, compared to 27,428 in the previous year (2016 Q3 – 2017 Q2). This represents a return to levels seen before the European migration crisis in 2015.
Decisions:
- There were 5,223 initial decisions in Q2, of which 23% were grants of asylum (1,225) and 3% were grants of HP/ DL (171). This compares to 5,990 initial decisions in Q1 of which 19% were grants of asylum (1,164) and 3% (193) were grants of HP/ DL.
- In the last year there were 21,666 initial decisions of which 29% were grants of asylum or HP/ DL (6,236). This compares to 22,962 initial decisions in the previous year, of which 34% were grants of asylum or HP/ DL (7,706). This represents a 20% decrease in grants of asylum in this year, compared to the previous year.
Applications by Nationality
- The nationalities with the largest numbers of asylum applications in the year ending June 2018 were:
o Iran (2,440 applications, down 14%)
o Iraq (2,405 applications, up 4%)
o Pakistan (2,313 applications, down 11%)
o Sudan (1,641 applications, up 3%)
o Albania (1,537 applications, up 4%)
o Eritrea (1,526 applications, up 33%)
- In the year ending June 2018, the number of applications from Syrian nationals fell 21% compared with the previous year (from 784 to 623), representing a fall in applications for the second consecutive year. The number of applications from Syrian nationals is now less than a quarter of the peak in the year ending June 2016 (2,543).
- Over the same period, there has been a reduction in both the number of Syrian nationals granted asylum (down 35%) and a decrease in the number of Syrian nationals being granted protection in the UK through other means such as the VPRS (down 24% from 5,637 to 4,311).
Pending cases
- There were 22,676 cases pending initial decision at the end of Q2 2018, of which 47% (10,707) were more than 6 months old. This compares to 24,593 cases pending initial decision at the end of Q1 2018, of which 40% (9,824) were more than 6 months old.
Appeals
- There were 3,094 appeals received in Q2 2018 and 2,867 appeals determined, of which 40% (1,136) were allowed. This compares to 3,364 appeals received in Q1 2018 and 3,030 appeals determined, of which 37% (1,116) were allowed.
- In the last year, 12,571 appeals were received and 11,461 appeals were determined, of which 38% were allowed (4,307). This compares to the previous year when 11,195 appeals were received and 16,339 were determined, of which 36% were allowed (5,853).
Asylum Support
- At the end of Q2 2018, there were 42,808 asylum-seekers supported under section 95 support (39,876 in dispersed accommodation and 2,932 subsistence only).
- At the end of Q2 2018, there were 4,179 people receiving section 4 support.
Resettlement
- In Q2, there were 145 people resettled via the Gateway Protection Programme, 6 via the Mandate scheme, 1,202 via the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme and 160 via the Vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme.
- A total of 5,702 people were resettled in the UK in the year ending June 2018 under various schemes. This brings the total number of people provided protection under VPRS to 12,851 since the scheme began in 2014. The Government target is to resettle 20,000 refugees via VPRS by 2020/
Remember the person behind the numbers
Photo of a sculpture by the artist Frances Bruno Catalano, which symbolizes the vacuum created by being forced to leave your land, your life, your people… for any reason.