Accredited official statistics

How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?

Published 22 August 2024

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Data relates to year ending June 2024 and all comparisons are with year ending June 2023 (unless indicated otherwise). All data includes dependants, unless indicated otherwise.

1. Settlement

People in the UK who meet certain criteria may be entitled to settlement. This allows them to remain in the UK indefinitely. People granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are not included here. For further information on EU Settlement Scheme, see ‘How many people have been granted settlement via the EU Settlement Scheme?’

There were 137,020 grants of settlement in the UK in the year ending June 2024, 17% more than the year ending June 2023.

The number of people granted settlement each year will reflect the number of migrants coming to the UK in earlier years and policies regarding the length of time they are required to live in the UK before becoming eligible for settlement. Key rule changes affecting the long-term trends in grants of settlement by route were summarised in the Immigration system statistics, year ending March 2023.

Figure 1: Grants of settlement in the UK, by leave type^1,2, years ending June 2015 to June 2024

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. ‘Leave type’ relates to type of leave to remain in the UK held immediately prior to being granted settlement.
2. ‘Refugee’ refers to individuals who have been granted settlement in the UK, having been recognised as a refugee. It also includes those who have been granted exceptional leave, humanitarian protection, or discretionary leave to remain, and have subsequently qualified for settlement following a period of residence in the country.

Figure 1 shows the number of settlement grants have increased since the year ending June 2017 (58,262), reaching a high of 137,020 in year ending June 2024. The figure remains significantly lower than the peak in settlement grants in year ending September 2010, when there were 241,586 grants.

Table 1: Grants by leave type^1,2,3 and refusals of settlement in the UK, years ending June 2023 and June 2024

Reason	Year ending June 2023	Year ending June 2024	Change	Percentage change
Total grants of which:	117,023	137,020	+19,997	+17%
Work	37,329	49,872	+12,543	+34%
Refugee	31,644	33,445	+1,801	+6%
Family	32,324	38,601	+6,277	+19%
Other	15,726	15,102	-624	-4%
Total refusals	2,012	2,496	+484	+24%
Total decisions	119,035	139,516	+20,481	+17%

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. Trends in numbers applying for settlement will reflect policies and patterns of migration years earlier.
2. ‘Other’ includes grants based on Long Residence, Private Life, BN(O) routes and grants on a discretionary basis. Also includes a few cases where the category of leave immediately prior to the grant of settlement has not been recorded.
3. ‘Refugee’ refers to individuals who have been granted settlement in the UK, having been recognised as refugees. It also includes those who have been granted exceptional leave, humanitarian protection, or discretionary leave to remain, and have subsequently qualified for settlement following a period of residence in the country.

Settlement grants to people on work routes accounted for over a third (36%) of the total settlement grants in the year ending June 2024, and their number (49,872) was around a third (34%) higher than the previous year. Settlement grants for ‘Skilled workers’ accounted for three-quarters of all grants within the work category.

There were 38,601 grants of settlement to people on family routes in the year ending June 2024, 28% of the total and 19% higher than the previous 12-month period.

The total number of grants of settlement to refugees in the year ending June 2024 was 33,445, which was a 6% increase compared to the year ending June 2023. Although this figure represents an 18% decrease against year ending June 2022, which saw a peak in grants of settlement for refugees over the last 10 years (40,631), this figure is nearly double the average number of grants, pre-pandemic, between 2015 and 2019 year ending June (18,726).

The Migrant journey: 2023 report shows that, of people granted refugee permission as their first form of leave to remain, since 2007 nearly two-thirds went on to obtain settlement within 7 years, with the vast majority (93%) having obtained some form of indefinite leave to remain after 10 years.

Settlement grants to those previously in the UK for other reasons, primarily long residence, or discretionary leave, decreased by 4% to 15,102.

For information on those granted settlement via the EU settlement scheme, see How many people have been granted settlement via the EU settlement scheme.

2. Citizenship

People with British citizenship have the right to live and work in the UK without any immigration control and may apply for a British passport. British citizenship is defined by the British Nationality Act 1981. People may be eligible for British citizenship (or ‘naturalisation’) for several reasons. Further details on the eligibility to apply for British citizenship can be found on GOV.UK.

There were almost a quarter of a million (246,488) grants of British citizenship in the year ending June 2024, over a third (37%) more than the year ending June 2023.

In the year ending June 2024, there were 58,261 grants of citizenship to EU nationals, 41% more than in the year ending June 2023. There were 188,227 grants of citizenship to non-EU nationals, over a third higher (36%) than the previous 12-month period. Whilst there has been a fluctuation in the number of citizenship grants since the year ending June 2015, the latest figures represent a continuing upward trend seen since the year ending June 2020.

Figure 2: Number of grants of British citizenship for EU and non-EU nationals, years ending June 2015 to June 2024

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

Figure 2 shows the number of citizenship grants for the year ending June 2024. Recent increases in citizenship grants have been driven by the rise in grants to non-EU nationals.

The most common non-EU nationalities granted British citizenship in year ending June 2024 were Indian (22,263), Pakistani (19,491), and Nigerian (10,905) nationals. However, there are a very wide range of nationalities granted citizenship and the top 3 nationalities accounted for a little over one-quarter (28%) of grants to non-EU nationals in year ending June 2024.

Italian nationals were the top EU nationality granted citizenship in year ending June 2024 (13,188), followed by Romanian (7,675), and Polish (7,008) nationals. These 3 nationalities accounted for almost half (48%) of the grants of British citizenship to EU nationals over that period and have consistently accounted for over 40% of grants to EU nationals each quarter since 2013.

Grants by reason and refusals of British citizenship can be found in the Citizenship summary tables.

3. About these statistics

The statistics in this section refer to individuals who have leave to remain in the UK who wish to make their right to remain in the UK permanent.

More information about the statistics can be found in the user guide.

3.1 Settlement

Settlement can be granted to individuals – subject to immigration control – to allow them to work, study and travel into and out of the UK without restriction. To be granted settlement, individuals generally must have lived in the UK for a certain length of time in a qualifying category. Those granted settlement can access state benefits and register their UK-born children as British citizens. It does not entitle the individual to a British passport (which requires British citizenship) or to vote in a general election (which requires British, Commonwealth, or Irish Republic citizenship).

The statistics in this section show the number of grants and refusals on applications for settlement in the UK. They take account of the outcomes of reconsiderations and appeals.

3.2 Citizenship

British citizens can live and work in the UK free of any immigration controls. They can apply for a British passport, register to vote in all forms of election and referenda, and share in all the other rights and responsibilities of their status.

Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means people can be both a British citizen and a citizen of other countries.

If someone is not already a British citizen based on where and when they were born, or their parents’ circumstances, they can apply to become one.

The statistics in this section show the number of applications and grants for British citizenship.

In May 2024, the Home Office published the Migrant journey: 2023 report, which explores changes in non-EEA migrants’ visa and leave status as they journey through the UK’s immigration system.

4. Data tables

Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:

• Settlement summary tables
• Detailed settlement datasets
• Citizenship summary tables
• Detailed citizenship datasets

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