Drop in work visas and college students halved internet migration, ONS figures present
Internet migration fell by virtually 50% in 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr, based on the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS).
New estimates confirmed 431,000 extra folks arrived within the UK than left over the 12-month interval, in comparison with 860,000 a yr earlier – the biggest numerical drop on document.
The lower was pushed by declining numbers of individuals coming to work and examine within the UK following modifications launched by the earlier Conservative authorities, and huge numbers of people that arrived on examine visas after Covid-19 pandemic restrictions eased leaving.
There was additionally a big drop within the variety of dependents accompanying folks arriving within the UK on work and examine visas, the ONS stated.
The earlier greatest calendar yr fall was in the course of the early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic, when internet migration dropped from 184,000 within the yr ending December 2019 to 93,000 in December 2020.
The big drop within the variety of college students bringing members of the family to the UK was a key goal of James Cleverly, the final Tory dwelling secretary.
On the identical time, the top of world journey restrictions attributable to the pandemic meant individuals who delayed their intention to maneuver away lastly went by means of with their plans.
That group included individuals who got here to the UK to check and have now left.
Cleverly stated he was “very proud” to have performed an element in lowering internet migration.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, he stated it was one thing he labored on with the complete assist of then prime minister Rishi Sunak.
“It was roundly criticised by the Labour celebration on the time , who at the moment are attempting to take credit score for the work that I and different Conservatives did when in authorities,” he stated.
Separate information launched on Thursday by the Residence Workplace confirmed the variety of asylum seekers being housed in accommodations has fallen – however continues to be greater than when Labour got here to energy final yr.
Residence Workplace statistics confirmed there have been 32,345 asylum seekers residing in taxpayer-funded accommodations in March 2025, down from 38,079 in December 2024.
That determine is way decrease than the document of 58,636 below the final Conservative authorities in June 2023.
Nevertheless, it represents a 9% enhance since Labour got here to energy – the variety of asylum seekers in accommodations was 29,585 in June 2024.
Detailed figures present the Residence Workplace has begun to hurry up processing asylum claims – together with from folks on small boats.
Because of this no matter what number of arrive each day, extra persons are both being allowed to remain as real refugees – and subsequently pay their very own manner by means of work – or instructed they are going to be eliminated.
Ministers hope that speeding-up, coupled with the evolving measures to fight cross-channel boats, will finally slash the numbers in accommodations.
On Thursday, the federal government highlighted Residence Workplace information exhibiting 29,867 folks – together with failed asylum seekers and overseas criminals – had been returned to their dwelling nations.
Residence Secretary Yvette Cooper stated there had been a “300,000 drop in internet migration because the election” final yr, and promised the federal government would “additional cut back internet migration” by implementing its measures set out within the Immigration White Paper final week.
“These figures present an enormous enhance in returns of failed asylum seekers and overseas nationwide offenders, document ranges of unlawful working penalties, and the asylum backlog and resort use coming down,” she stated.
“We’re going even additional by introducing new counter terrorism fashion powers to spice up our border safety and smash the folks smuggling gangs liable for their vile commerce.”
In the meantime, a number of senior Conservative figures sought to take credit score for the drop in internet migration.
Shadow dwelling secretary Chris Philp stated: “The choices taken by the final Conservative authorities have meant these internet migration figures have fallen enormously… however let me be sincere, these steps usually are not sufficient. These numbers must go down additional.”
Tory chief Kemi Badenoch wrote on social media that “numbers are nonetheless too excessive”.
Responding to the figures, Reform UK chief Nigel Farage wrote on X: “Not as excessive as the good Tory betrayal, however nonetheless disastrous.”
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Lisa Sensible nevertheless, stated the present authorities was”proper to take steps to repair our damaged immigration system” after it was left in “tatters” by Conservative “mismanagement”.
Oxford College’s unbiased Migration Observatory stated the record-breaking decline was “primarily” doable as a result of numbers had been so excessive beforehand.
The unit’s head, Dr Madeleine Sumption, stated: “UK migration patterns in 2023 have been very uncommon, with unexpectedly massive numbers of visas for care staff, worldwide college students, and their members of the family.
“This made it simpler for the federal government at the moment to carry down the numbers.”
Dr Sumption predicted the modifications would have little impression on the financial system.
She stated: “The teams which have pushed the decline, comparable to examine and work dependants, are neither the very best expert, highest-paid migrants who make substantial contributions to tax revenues, nor essentially the most deprived teams that require substantial assist.”
