Latest immigration statistics:
more UK residents return home
than ever
30 May 2018
The latest report from the Office of National Statistics shows quarterly and annual data relating to those coming to the UK; visiting; extending their stay; gaining citizenship; and arriving to work, study or for family reasons.
All statistics are taken to the year ending March 2018, unless stated otherwise.
Arrivals
Based on information gained on airport passenger surveys, 137.9 million people arrived in the UK, including a record number of returning UK residents than ever before: an increase of six million compared with 2017.
There were 3.1 million more arrivals by British, EEA and Swiss nationals
2.9 million more non-EEA nationals. The majority of these do not require a visa. For those who did, there were 2.7 million granted, mostly for the purpose of a visit and some for study.
Visit
2.7 million visas were granted and, of these, 2.1 million (77 per cent) were because people wanted to visit.
The notable increases are:
- Indian nationals, up by 12 per cent
- Russian nationals, up by 22 per cent
- Pakistani nationals, up by 34 per cent
Chinese and Indian nationals accounted for just under half (46 per cent) of all visit visas granted.
As many countries do not require a visa to enter the country, the number of visitor visas granted is lower than the total number of arrivals.
Continuing to stay
163,817 applicants were granted an extension to their stay in 2017.
- 79 per cent were allowed to stay within their previous broad reason for stay
- 21 per cent switched categories
There were 71,676 people granted permission to stay permanently in the UK, 23 per cent more than in the previous year.
141,883 documents of permanent residence were issued, the majority to EU nationals.
Citizenship
Total applications for British citizenship rose by six per cent, with applications from non-EU nationals falling, but almost doubling for EU nationals, up by 18,302 to 40, 456.
Work
There were one per cent fewer work-related visas granted in the year ending March 2018. They included 53, 674 Tier 2 visas, a drop of four per cent from the previous year.
Study
There was a seven per cent increase on the previous year.
Three nationalities (Chinese, Indian and US) accounted for over half (53 per cent), with Chinese nationals making up to 40 per cent of the total.
Family
The amount of family-related visas granted fell by one per cent to 134, 789.
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