The approval rate for asylum seekers from Pakistan in the United Kingdom has risen, while applications from Bangladeshi nationals have faced a sharply contrasting outcome.
In 2024, Pakistani citizens filed the highest number of asylum requests—over 10,500—with a primary approval rate of 51%. In comparison, the approval rate for Bangladeshi applicants was among the lowest, at just 18%.
In terms of overall long-term migration, Pakistanis ranked as the third-largest group of non-EU nationals, following Indians and Nigerians.
The most immediate policy impact was seen in September 2024, when the British government decided to suspend new applications under the refugee family reunification route.
A new analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has outlined the consequences of this decision. Between 2010 and 2024, 92% of those granted Family Reunion visas were women and girl children.
This route was primarily used by women to join their husbands or fathers who had already been granted refugee status. Restricting this pathway, the report suggests, will temporarily shift the gender balance among asylum seekers — tilting it towards men.
Researcher Dr. Nuni Jorgensen warned that the change could lead more women to attempt entering the UK illegally through unauthorized channels.
This policy shift coincides with broader visa approval trends. For the first time since 2016, in 2024, visa approvals across multiple categories slightly favored men — 51% male versus 49% female — largely due to the rise in male international students.
However, the ban on bringing dependents under student visas disproportionately affected women. As a result, the share of women as principal applicants dropped to 46%.
These developments come as asylum applications hit a record high. In 2024, a total of 108,138 people applied for asylum in the UK. Pakistan now tops the list of countries of origin for asylum seekers, followed by Afghanistan and Iran.
According to the latest data from June 2025, refugees represent about 1.5% of all Universal Credit claimants in the UK. Broader welfare statistics show that 76.4% of all claimants belong to the White ethnic group.
However, recent immigrants from Pakistan (21%) and Bangladesh (27%) are statistically more likely to live in disadvantaged households, suggesting that once they acquire legal status — such as refugee recognition or permanent residence — many rely on state welfare support to sustain themselves.
