New Evidence on Post-Brexit UK Migration Trends

Abstract

The report co-authored by Dr Federico Filauri, Dr Matteo Pazzona and Dr Matilde Rosina provides new evidence on post-Brexit UK migration trends up to December 2023. The report analyses recent migration patterns, highlighting the complex interplay between policy changes, economic factors, and global events in shaping UK migration trends.:Key findings: • In December 2023, net migration was 685,000, a 10% decrease from its all-time high in December 2022 (764,000), but still a 47% increase compared to December 2021 (466,000). Among internationals, 41% immigrated to the UK to work, 34% to study, 7% for family reasons, 11% for humanitarian and asylum, and 6% for other reasons. • In December 2023, the Department for Work and Pensions recorded more than 1.11 million new NiNo registrations from internationals, comparable with 1.05 million in 2022, with non-EU nationals accounting for 91% of the total (led by India and Nigeria), and EU for the remaining 9% (led by Romania). Between 2022 and 2023 there has been a 46% rise in the granting of work visa, amounting to 616,371 in 2023. • In 2023, the number of new international students marked a 3% decrease, for a total of 340,990. This is consistent with the 3% drop in study visa grants, which amounted to 605,504 in 2023. However, last year, almost a quarter (24%) of study visas have been granted to a dependant, a significant rise from the 4% in 2019. • The number of small boat arrivals totalled 29,437, marking a 36% decrease compared to the previous year, and in line with 2021. The decline in 2023 is mainly driven by a vertical drop in the number of Albanian migrants, which decreased by 93%. Humanitarian visa grants amounted to 102,283 in 2023, almost half of which were on Ukraine schemes. However, the latter marked an 80% decrease compared to the previous year, which drove down the number of humanitarian visa grants by approximately two thirds. • In 2023, there were 81,203 family-related visas granted in 2023, a 72% increase from last year and an all-time high.