The highest number of immigrants coming into Britain in 2023 were Indians, with 250,000 of them. Out of these numbers, 127,000 Indians came for work while another 115,000 came to learn and 9,000 others came under other categories. Following them was Nigerian (141k), Chinese (90k), and Pakistani (83k).
Last year’s net migration amounted to 685,000, after reaching the record high ever in 2022 with768,000 Office for National Statistics says. Arrivals for study or work are also counted as part of UK immigration.
Among these arrivals from none-EU countries had the largest share at 85%, unlike before the year 2021 when it was constituted by EU citizens mainly.
Non-EU nationals’ main reason for moving to UK has changed from studying to working; there were423k non-EU nationals who migrated to UK to work over the year ending December 2023 compared to 277k during the previous period indicating a rise of 53%. These included 219k dependant applicantsand 204k principal applicants; hence more non-EU nationals are entering as dependants of those on long-term work visas than asmain applicants. This is especially true because there have been more dependants accompanying health and care visa holders. In fact, there were 279,131 visas issued to those accompanying people on work visas in 2023 which was an increase of80% over that in2022; within this figure 203452 were for health and care worker dependants.
In terms of home office statistics; out of a total number of337240 main applicant work visas issued in twenty three146477 represented health and care visas sold (91% up on last year’s count which stood at76724). Care workers were given 89236 visas whose largest group consisted of Indianas 18664 representing a little bit over half nurses’ visas received by Indian people 11322.
114,409 graduate visas were granted to main visa applicants in 2023 with 50,053 of these being held by Indian applicants who formed the largest group. Indians also got the highest number of study visas issued.
Recent data released by home office indicates a decline in student visas awarded to Indian nationals; 21,800 fewer Indians arrived in UK for Master’s level education between March 2023 and March 2024 compared to the previous year following the introduction of restrictions on bringing dependants since Jan.
