Pakistan (10,542), Afghanistan (8,508) and Iran (8,099) were the most common nationalities claiming asylum in 2024, together representing 25% of people claiming asylum. Asylum grants permanent UK residency, unlike work and study visas, which are temporary. However, the number of UK work and study visas dropped in 2024, compared to the year before. Nearly 10,000 claimants living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, including hotels, were originally on work or study visas, The Times reported. Asylum seekers can claim protection for family members, with a surge in Indians and Nigerians claiming study and work visas with dependants in the last three years, reported The Times.
