Accredited official statistics

Summary of latest statistics

Updated 22 August 2019

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1. How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?

There were an estimated 144.7 million passenger arrivals in the year ending June 2019 (including returning UK residents), a 4% increase compared to the previous year and the highest number on record. The latest available data relating (to year ending March 2019) show arrivals from British, other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals increased by 7% to 124.4 million, while arrivals from Non-EEA nationals decreased by 7% to 19.6 million.

There were 3.0 million visas granted in the year ending June 2019, a 9% increase of 249,279 compared with the previous year, continuing the upward trend seen over the last decade. Of these, over three-quarters (77%) were to visit, 8% were to study (excluding short-term study), 6% were to work and 2% were for family reasons.

For further details see ʻHow many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?’ and the data tables.

2. Why do people come to the UK?

2.1 Work

There were 185,465 work-related visas granted in the year ending June 2019, 11% higher than the previous year, and the highest level since the year ending March 2009.

The majority (69%) of the increase in the latest year can be accounted for by Skilled (Tier 2) work visas, which increased by 13% to 108,890 following a relatively stable period between 2015 and 2018. This category accounts for 59% of work-related visas granted.

There were also increase in the number of Youth mobility and temporary worker (Tier 5) visas granted, up 7% to 43,122, and an increase in High-value (Tier 1) visas granted (up 36% to 7,492).

For further details see ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To work’ and the data tables.

2.2 Study

In the year ending June 2019, there were 253,111 Sponsored study (Tier 4) visas granted (including dependants), a 13% increase or 29,115 more than the previous year, and the highest level since 2011.

The majority (85%) of those applying to come to the UK on a sponsored study visa apply to study at Higher Education (university) institutions. In the year ending June 2019, Sponsored study visa applications for the Higher Education (university) sector increased by 11% to 201,919, the highest level on record.

For further details see ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To study’ and the data tables.

2.3 Family

There were 169,606 visas granted for family reasons in the year ending June 2019, 20% more than in the previous year.

There was a large increase in EEA family permits granted, up 53% to 44,825, as well as increases in family-related visas granted (up 16% to 49,741) and dependants of people coming to the UK on other types of visas (up 9% to 74,518).

For further details see ʻWhy do people come to the UK? For family reasons’ and the data tables.

3. How many people do we grant asylum or protection to?

The UK gave protection to 18,519 people in the year ending June 2019 (up 29% compared with the previous year). This was the highest number of people granted protection in the UK over a one-year period since the year ending September 2003.

Since it began in 2014, 17,051 people have been resettled under the Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme (VPRS), with 4,200 being resettled in the year ending June 2019.

There were 32,693 asylum applications in the UK in the year ending June 2019, 21% more than the previous year but below the level seen in the year ending June 2016 during the European migration crisis.

In the year ending June 2019, 44% of initial decisions on asylum applications resulted in a grant, compared with 29% in the previous year. However, the grant rate at final decision (following appeal) increased to around 50% (based on data from 2015 to 2017).

For further details see ʻHow many people do we grant asylum or protection to?’ and the data tables.

3.1 Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation (experimental statistics)

In 2018, there were 1,502 asylum applications where sexual orientation formed part of the basis for the claim (LGB asylum applications), representing 5% of all applications.

Although the grant rate for LGB asylum applications was lower than for all asylum applications (35%), nationalities who commonly claim asylum on the basis of sexual orientation typically see higher grant rates for LGB applications than for total applications.

For further details see ʻAsylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation’ and the data tables.

4. How many people continue their stay in the UK?

4.1 Extension of temporary stay in the UK

There were 267,951 grants of extension of stay in the year ending June 2019, an increase of 14% on the previous year.

The number of extensions for work reasons increased by 20% to 95,507 including increases in the Skilled (Tier 2) work category. There was also a 16% increase in extensions for family reasons to 104,644.

4.2 Settlement

There were 89,406 decisions on applications for settlement in the UK in the year ending June 2019, 4% more than in the previous year. Of these, 85,931 (96%) resulted in a grant. This was an increase for the second consecutive year, following falls since the year ending June 2013.

4.3 Citizenship

There were 175,011 applications for British citizenship in the year to June 2019, 19% more than in the previous year. Applications for citizenship by EU nationals increased by 26% to 53,588. Increases in citizenship applications from EU nationals in the last 3 years are likely to result from more people seeking to confirm their status following the EU referendum.

Applications made by non-EU nationals increased by 17% in the most recent year to 121,423, following falls in the previous 2 years.

For further details see ʻHow many people continue their stay in the UK?’ and the data tables.

5. How many people are detained or returned?

5.1 Immigration detention

At the end of June 2019, there were 1,727 people held in the detention estate, 22% fewer than a year earlier.

In the year ending June 2019, 24,052 individuals entered the detention estate, 8% fewer than the previous year. This represents a fall for the fourth consecutive year to the lowest level since comparable records began in 2009.

In 2018, one person died while being held solely under immigration powers in detention. This does not include those who died while being detained solely under immigration powers in prison, or after leaving detention.

5.2 Returns

There were 8,060 enforced returns from the UK in the year ending June 2019, 26% fewer than the previous year (10,914). This was largely accounted for by falls in enforced returns of people who were in detention prior to their return, which fell by 25% to 5,395.

Additionally, there were 13,140 voluntary returns (although this figure is subject to upward revision), and 19,399 passengers refused entry at port and subsequently departed.

For further details see ʻHow many people are detained or returned?’ and the data tables.

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