World Immigration News

Migration: How many people come to work and study in the UK and what are the rules?

Release Date: 2025-02-28
Media: BBC
Summary: In the year to June 2024, 728,000 people migrated to the UK, a decrease from 906,000 in the previous year. This drop was larger than expected due to a significant revision of the 2023 figure.

Out of 1.2 million arrivals in the year to June 2024, 58,000 were British nationals, 116,000 were from the EU or associated countries, and 1 million were from non-EU countries. Among the non-EU migrants, 82% were of working age, 17% were children, and 8% applied for asylum. Indian nationals were the most common among those coming for work (116,000) and study (127,000).

In the year ending December 2024, 393,125 student visas were issued, a 14% decrease from the previous year but 46% higher than in 2019. Since January 2024, international postgraduate students cannot bring dependents unless their course is a research program.

The salary threshold for work visas was raised to £38,700 in April 2024, an increase of nearly 50% from the previous £26,200. The number of visas issued for healthcare workers dropped by 81% compared to the previous year, following changes to rules that limited dependents' ability to join health and social care workers.
Tags: United Kingdom

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