Sudanese nationals were the fourth-largest group arriving in the United Kingdom via irregular routes in the 12 months to June 2025, according to newly released Home Office figures.
The data, cited by the Independent, show 4,318 Sudanese reached the UK through unauthorised channels during the period, accounting for 8.9% of the 48,478 people recorded overall. Only Afghans, Eritreans and Iranians were more numerous. Arrivals from Sudan outpaced those from Syria, Vietnam and Somalia.
Despite their prominence in irregular entries, Sudanese nationals did not appear among the top recipients of UK visas issued through legal pathways for work, study or humanitarian reasons. Those categories were led by India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria and the United States.
The contrast underscores what migration analysts describe as a “route gap”: nationals from countries heavily represented in small-boat crossings often face limited access to formal visa schemes, pushing some to attempt dangerous journeys across the English Channel.
Most irregular arrivals during the year crossed the Channel in small boats, the Home Office said.
