Information on the number of Afghanistan nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom, together with those returned voluntarily or following enforcement action, has only been available since 2004.
The available information is in the following table:
No data are available on the total number of persons who return to their country of origin.
United Kingdom Number of journeys Purpose of journey 2004 2005 Visitors 1,870 1,700 Students 75 80 Work permit holders (inc. dependants) 15 25 Admitted as a spouse or fiancé(e) 300 385 Passengers in transit 265 285 Passengers returning after a temporary absence 5,660 4,280 Others given leave to enter 725 970 Accepted for settlement on arrival 70 180 Refugees, exceptional leave cases and their dependants1 10 10 1 Excluding such persons given temporary admission and grants made under the Family ILR exercise. Data rounded to three significant figures or the nearest five where appropriate, as such components may not sum to the totals shown.
Number of persons United Kingdom 2004 2005 Total persons removed 590 930 Of whom: Removals and voluntary departures3, 4, 5 360 505 Left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes6 230 425 1 Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum due to rounding. 2 Provisional figures. 3 Removal figures in 2005 include 10 persons who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. 4 Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed, enforced removals and persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them. 5 Excludes Assisted Voluntary Returns. 6 Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.