Bangladesh has once again emerged among the top five countries whose nationals seek political asylum in the United Kingdom, according to the latest figures released by the UK Home Office. The data highlights a record number of asylum applications, with Bangladesh ranking fifth on the list.
In the year ending September 2025, a total of 110,051 people applied for asylum in the UK—an increase of 13 percent compared to the previous year. Notably, around 40 percent of these applicants, or approximately 41,500 individuals, were already residing in the UK legally on valid visas or permits.
The statistics reveal a growing trend of “visa switching,” where individuals initially enter the UK on student or work visas and later apply for asylum in pursuit of permanent residence. Students account for the largest share of such cases, with 14,243 student visa holders applying for asylum, followed closely by 13,427 applicants who entered on work visas. While this figure previously remained below 1,000 per quarter, it has now surged to more than 4,000 applications every three months.
In terms of nationality, Pakistan topped the asylum applicant list for the first time, accounting for 11 percent of total claims. It was followed by Eritrea (8 percent), Iran (7 percent), Afghanistan (7 percent), and Bangladesh (6 percent). Bangladesh has consistently remained within the top five asylum-seeking countries over the past five years. Experts attribute this trend largely to ongoing political uncertainty and economic pressures in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The rising numbers have sparked renewed debate over the transparency and effectiveness of the UK’s points-based immigration system. Conservative Party Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the trend as a “systemic abuse,” alleging that student and work visas are being exploited on an “industrial scale” to secure permanent settlement. He called for stricter scrutiny of asylum applications.
In response, the UK Home Office stated that it is taking firm measures to tighten immigration controls. Officials claim that stricter rules on visitor visas for high-risk countries have reduced asylum applications from certain nations by as much as 93 percent. Despite the heavy caseload, the backlog of pending asylum decisions has been reduced by 54 percent compared to 2023, though more than 62,200 applications remain unresolved.
Barrister Md Iqbal Hossain, principal of Chancery Solicitors in East London, said the current Labour government is preparing to pass the Border Security and Asylum Bill. He noted that the government’s key challenge is balancing the need for skilled foreign workers while closing loopholes that allow irregular asylum claims. He also warned that fraudulent applications often harm genuine asylum seekers, making the process more difficult for those in real need of protection.
