𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A record number of people claimed asylum after arriving in the UK on a work visa, bombshell figures show.

Some 100,625 people sought refuge in the UK in 2025, which is down from 104,764 in 2024.

But Home Office records show an increase in claims from Channel migrants, with 41,262 applying last year, up from the previous high of 41,233 in 2022.

And the number of migrants living in houses, flats and bedsits has increased as Labour scrambles to close hotels.

Analysis revealed 68,538 asylum seekers were living in ‘dispersal accommodation’, up from 66,232 three months ago.

The number of people in hotels has dropped from 36,273 to 30,657. But it is still higher than when Labour won the General Election.

Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Labour are moving illegal immigrants from asylum hotels to residential housing. There are far fewer checks and safeguards in dispersal accommodation which allows illegal immigrants to work illegally, commit more crime, and disappear into your community.

“Keir Starmer the highest number of Channel crossings of any Prime Minister on record, just yesterday 545 illegal immigrants crossed the Channel and more have crossed so far this year than last year.

“Labour only have removed six per cent of small boat arrivals, Labour do not have the backbone to tackle the illegal immigration crisis. Shabana Mahmood has no control of our border, and things are getting worse.”

The Home Office revealed 13,557 applied for support after arriving in the UK on a work visa, up from the previous high of 13,427.

More than 6,600 of these were made by Bangladeshis and Pakistani citizens.

Some 39,095 people applied for asylum after arriving on a study, work or visitor visa.

The Home Office said a staggering 100,625 claimed asylum in the year to December 2025, down from the previous 12 months.

Of the protection claims, 41,262 arrived on a small boat.

Eritreans, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese and Somalis accounted for almost three-fifths of all small boat arrivals.

Another 11,190 entered the country illegally, either by lorry, in a shipping container or with fake documents.

Reform’s Zia Yusuf told the Daily Express: “The number of illegal migrants per boat has reached a new record: 62 per boat, up 50% in 3 years.

“The latest immigration figures show the invasion of the United Kingdom continues apace. Small boat arrivals up 13% and new records are made for arrivals from countries like Somalia, as more learn how easy it is to penetrate Britain’s borders illegally.”

And 39% of all asylum claims (39,095) came from foreign nationals who entered the UK on a work, study or visitor visa.

Of the 39,095 claimants, 12,578 held a study visa, 13,557 arrived on a work visa, 7,521 used a visitor visa and 5,439 held other forms of leave.

One in 10 asylum seekers was from Pakistan, with 10,638 in total. Most sought protection after arriving on a visa.

They were followed by Eritreans (8,948) and Iranians (7,419).

The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has warned asylum is becoming a greater proportion of net migration to the UK.

Separate research – carried out by the Home Office – showed more than half of refugees are unemployed. The employment rate amongst refugees reaches 45% after two years and 48% after eight, increasing fears they will cost the taxpayer even more in benefits.

The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford warned Labour is struggling to cut the number of people the Home Office is supporting.

Researchers warned the spiralling appeals backlog is hitting Labour’s bid to close asylum hotels.

They addded: “People awaiting an appeal are not liable for removal, and receive housing from the Home Office if they are destitute.”

Dr Peter Walsh, senior researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: “Refused applications will inevitably lead to tens of thousands more appeals, adding significant pressure to the already very stretched tribunals system.

“Hotel accommodation is unpopular all round: it is expensive for the UK taxpayer and not suitable for long-term living. However, the government has struggled to expand capacity in other types of accommodations, such as disused military sites or dispersed houses of multiple occupancy. It is also struggling to reduce the number of people in the asylum system, because asylum applications remain unusually high and because of the appeals backlog.”

Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris, said: “Today’s figures show that we are making progress to restore the asylum and immigration system – but more must be done to stop people crossing the Channel illegally.

“Removals of illegal migrants who arrived on a small boat have increased, and nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here have been removed or deported under this government.

“That includes removals of foreign national offenders going up by 32% and enforced returns up by 45%.

“But our sweeping reforms will take us further. That includes replacing the broken appeals system as well as crack down on the incentives drawing illegal migrants to our country in the first place.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “These statistics show real progress as we restore order and control to our borders.

“We have removed nearly 60,000 illegal migrants, numbers in asylum hotels are down, law enforcement action against people smugglers is at record levels and we are bearing down on the asylum backlog.

“But we must go further. The number of people crossing the Channel is too high, and too many hotels remain in use. That is why the Home Secretary is introducing sweeping reforms to tackle the pull factors drawing illegal migrants to Britain, and we are ramping up removals of those with no right to be here.”