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Afghanistan → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Afghanistan
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom

Inflows of nationals of Afghanistan recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Afghanistan living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,0002,00020122015
1,0002,00020122015
Data table
20121,000
20132,000
20151,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——3,496
2022——2,699
2021—18,0002,648
2020——1,078
2019——1,604
2018—24,0001,677
2017—52,0001,434
2016—47,0001,974
20151,00028,0001,369
2014—28,0001,432
20132,00020,0003,627
20121,00016,6814,600
2011—28,0003,950
2010—27,0005,280
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Afghanistan who live in the United Kingdom: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

50k99k200020052010201520202024
50k99k200020052010201520202024
Data table
200011,071
200526,438
201057,255
201573,923
202088,375
202499,398
Estimate, 2024
99,398
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.84%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
29
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Afghanistan, and students from Afghanistan at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Other5,875
  2. Family4,268
  3. Visitor1,218
  4. Study271
  5. Work153

Visas issued by year

7,18714k201020122014201620182020202220242025
7,18714k201020132016201920222025
Data table
20104,150
20114,884
20123,390
20132,853
20143,106
20152,829
20162,474
20172,619
20182,845
20193,650
20201,671
20218,107
20228,499
202310,848
202414,374
202511,785

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

28356520152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
283565201520172019202120232025
Data table
2015145
2016140
2017110
201895
201990
2020110
2021195
2022290
2023530
2024565
2025320
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Afghanistan (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019001,604147
20181,79901,677131
20172,17901,435148
20161,81801,973163
20152,30101,372184
20142,12701,431221
20131,86503,627225
20122,16904,6000
20113,94503,9500
20103,49405,2800
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United Kingdom in Afghanistan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyKabulgov.uk
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Afghanistan move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Afghanistan, 2023
  1. Germany58,482
  2. United States35,630
  3. Canada20,180
  4. Türkiye12,732
  5. France10,974
  6. Australia4,275
  7. Belgium3,934
  8. Austria3,530
  9. Switzerland3,466
  10. Sweden3,125
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more