In 2022, the United Kingdom received 488 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), 32% more than in 2021. This figure comprises 39% labour migrants, 48% family members (including accompanying family) and 5% humanitarian migrants. Around 476 000 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 100 000 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 111 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2022, a 190% increase compared to 2021. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
India, China and Nigeria were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2022. Among the top 15 countries of origin, India registered the strongest increase (49 000) and China the largest decrease (‑21 000) in flows to the United Kingdom compared to the previous year.
In 2023, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑5.6%, to reach around 84 000. The majority of applicants came from Afghanistan (9 300), Iran (7 400) and Pakistan (5 300). The largest increase since 2022 concerned nationals of Pakistan (2 700) and the largest decrease nationals of Albania (‑12 000). Of the 125 000 decisions taken in 2023, 52% were positive.
Emigration of the United Kingdom citizens to OECD countries decreased by ‑7% in 2022, to 89 000. Approximately 21% of this group migrated to Spain, 13% to Australia and 12% to the United States.
The UK Government in 2023 and 2024 (until the General Election in July 2024) has continued its focus on policy changes to deliver a secure and efficient border system, prioritising national safety and prosperity. The primary legislative efforts focused on reducing historically high levels of net migration, and on stopping undocumented migration, notably those arriving across the Channel in small boats. For 2023, net migration figures for the United Kingdom were estimated at 685 000, and the number of irregular arrivals detected amounted to 36 700 (down 33% from 2022) of which 29 400 were small boat arrivals (down 36% on 2022).
From late 2023 to early 2024, the UK Government brought in five key changes aimed at reducing net migration: (i) restrictions on most international students from being able to bring their dependents (partners and children) (ii) removal of adult social care workers ability to bring dependants on their visa; (iii) increase of the baseline minimum salary to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa from GBP 26 200 to GBP 38 700; (iv) limitation of the list of jobs (Immigration Salary List) for which it is possible to sponsor someone for a Skilled Worker visa at a reduced minimum salary; (v) increase in the minimum income normally required to sponsor for a spouse/partner visa from GBP 18 600 per year to GBP 29 000 (and further rise to GBP 38 700 by early 2025).
In 2023, the UK Parliament passed the Illegal Migration Act which changed the law so that individuals arriving in the United Kingdom illegally are not able to stay, and will instead be detained and promptly removed, either to their home country or to a safe third country. It aims to deter illegal entry to the United Kingdom including those made by small boat across the Channel, speed up the removal of those individuals with no right to remain, curtail the abuse of modern slavery safeguards to block removals, and commit to resettle a specific number of the most vulnerable refugees in the United Kingdom every year.
Underpinning this, in 2022, the United Kingdom had entered a migration and economic development partnership with Rwanda to relocate individuals who arrived in the United Kingdom illegally to Rwanda for consideration of their asylum claims under Rwandan law and operational processes. Following a series of legal challenges, the Supreme Court found that the principle of relocating individuals to a safe third country for consideration of their asylum claim was compliant with the Refugee Convention, but ultimately concluded that deficiencies in the Rwandan asylum system caused a real risk of refoulement. The UK Government then passed the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act in April 2024. It sets out, in law, that Rwanda is to be treated as a generally safe country for the purpose of relocating migrants for the consideration of their asylum claims. Operational activity to detain individuals commenced in April 2024.
Following the General Election in July 2024, policy changes in a number of these domains are expected.
For further information: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office | www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics
