24 Chaitra, London – According to data from the Home Office, the number of Nepali nationals seeking asylum in the United Kingdom reached 475 in the past year. By the end of December 2025, a total of 162,500 individuals had applied for asylum in the UK, among whom 475 were Nepali citizens.
The statistics indicate that three individuals entered the UK illegally via small boats, while 472 applied for asylum after arriving in the country. Of these applicants, 328 were male and 147 female. The group comprised 448 principal applicants and 27 dependents. Regarding age distribution, 11 applicants were under 18 years old, 406 (85%) were between 18 and 29, 52 (11%) were aged 30 to 49, and 6 (1%) were between 50 and 69 years. Notably, 85% of applicants aged 18 to 29 were students.
Over the past five years, asylum applications by Nepali nationals have fluctuated as follows: 104 in 2020, 182 in 2021, a peak of 1,263 during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, 704 in 2023, and 718 in 2024. Although the number of asylum seekers decreased last year compared to 2023, it remained higher than in 2021. According to figures up to December 2025, a total of 162,500 individuals filed asylum claims, representing a 4% decrease compared to December 2024 but double the number compared to December 2019. Among the total applicants, 12,578 were students.
Additionally, 13,557 individuals entered the UK on work visas, and 7,521 arrived on visit visas during the same period. The top ten countries of origin for asylum seekers last year included Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, India, Somalia, Nigeria, and Vietnam. The government introduced a new policy on March 2, stipulating that asylum seekers will be granted temporary residence only and will not receive permanent settlement. Under this new rule, every adult asylum seeker’s status will be reviewed every 30 months.
