UK Net Migration Drops by Nearly Half in 2024 Amid Visa Clampdown

The United Kingdom has witnessed a sharp decline in net migration, with figures for 2024 nearly halving compared to the previous year, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Provisional statistics released by the ONS show that net migration dropped to 431,000 in the year ending December 2024—down from 860,000 recorded in 2023. The significant drop is attributed largely to tighter restrictions on study and work visas for non-EU+ nationals.

Work Visa Decline:

The data reveals a 49% fall in arrivals by main applicants on work visas, equating to approximately 108,000 fewer migrants than the previous year.

Study Visa Cuts:

Immigration for educational purposes also declined, with the number of main applicants falling by 17%. Most strikingly, the number of dependents on study visas plummeted by 86%, translating to a reduction of over 105,000 individuals.

In total, 948,000 long-term immigrants entered the UK in 2024—a 30% decline from the 1.33 million recorded in 2023. This marks the first time since March 2022 that total immigration figures have fallen below one million.

Meanwhile, long-term emigration rose by 11% to 517,000, driven in part by international students completing their programs and returning home, aided by eased post-pandemic travel restrictions.

“This change is driven by a decrease in immigration from non-EU+ nationals… especially people leaving who originally came on study visas,” the ONS report stated.

Despite the overall dip, nationals from India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, and Ukraine continued to make up the largest proportion of long-term non-EU+ immigrants to the UK.

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Trump Declares Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks to Begin ‘Immediately’ After Call With Putin