Leading up to September 2017, net migration to the United Kingdom fell, as immigration decreased and emigration increased. In the year ending September 2017 net migration was +244 000, down 29 000 compared with the previous year. The decline was driven by a fall in net migration from EU nationals, down 75 000 to +90,000. However the number of EU nationals coming to the UK remains higher than the number leaving. Over the same period, there was an increase in net migration from non-EU nationals (up 40 000 to +205 000) and British nationals (up 4 000 to -52 000). Net migration has shown a general downward trend since early 2016.
As in 2015, the largest group of non-British long-term immigrants to the United Kingdom in 2016 were estimated to be from Romania, accounting for 12% of arrivals, followed by India (8%), China (8%) and Poland (6%). Other European countries were also well represented.
In the year ending September 2017, over 40% of all long-term immigrants to the United Kingdom (248 000 individuals) said their main reason for coming to the United Kingdom was to take up a definite job offer or to look for work. The number of immigrants coming to the UK for work reasons fell compared with the previous year. Over the same period, the number leaving the UK for work reasons increased to 179 000. It is important to note, however, that some of those leaving for work reasons are likely to have originally entered for other reasons such as study.
The number of long-term immigrants to the United Kingdom who arrive for the purposes of study has fallen since its peak of 246 000 in 2011. However, the most recent period shows immigration to study was 163 000 in year ending September 2017 (up 29 000 on the previous year). Home Office visa data for the calendar year 2017 show the number of study-related visas issued has also increased (up 8%) in the last year, and applications sponsored by the university sector have risen (up 6% to 177 775). The fall in long-term immigration for study since the peak in 2011 is largely a response to tighter government policies to address non-compliance with the immigration rules, especially in the Further Education sector. A further 81 000 migrants arrived in the UK to accompany, or to join, their family, 7 000 higher than the previous year.
Reasons for coming to the UK continue to vary between OECD (excluding the UK) and non-OECD area citizens. Overall, those from OECD countries continue to appear predominantly work motivated (64%) compared with 37% for non-OECD countries. Those from elsewhere are more likely to express study or family reasons for coming to the United Kingdom than those from OECD countries.
The number of EU citizens moving to the United Kingdom to look for work decreased by 35 000, at the year ending September 2017. Those coming for a definite job also saw a small decline. The latest data still show that more EU citizens are arriving in the UK than leaving, meaning that the numbers of EU citizens in employment have continued to grow, although the rate of increase has slowed for a variety of reasons.
Asylum applications in the UK from main applicants decreased by 14% in 2017, to 26 350. This continues a downward trend since 2015. The largest number of applications for asylum came from nationals of Iran (2 600), followed by Pakistan (2 500), Iraq (2 400), Bangladesh (1 700), and Sudan (1 700). The majority of applications were made by people already in the country (85%) rather than immediately on arrival. Of the 21 300 initial decisions on asylum applications from main applicants, 32% granted some form of protection, down from 34% the previous year.
In addition to offering protection through asylum routes, the UK has other channels such as resettlement schemes. The UK granted asylum, alternative forms of protection, or resettlement to nearly 15 000 in 2017. Nearly 6 000 of these were children under 18 years old.
In 2016, the UK transferred over 900 unaccompanied asylum seeking children to the UK from Europe. In July 2017, following consultation with local authorities on capacity, the Government announced that the specified number of children to be transferred would be 480.
Policy on future immigration from the EU and on the position of EU citizens in the United Kingdom was set out in July 2017 in a Command Paper, “Safeguarding the Position of EU Citizens Living in the UK and UK Nationals Living in the EU”. The paper sets out a series of principles, including the expectation that the EU will offer reciprocal treatment for United Kingdom nationals resident in its member states. Meanwhile, negotiations continue.
