UK net migration hit 606,000 in 2022 – the highest figure ever recorded, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The rise is driven by people arriving from non-EU countries on government-issued visas to study, work or join family members.
The figure includes Ukrainian and Hong Kong citizens for whom the UK government opened special schemes.
How many migrants come to the UK?
In 2022, 1,163,000 people came to the UK expecting to stay for at least a year, and an estimated 557,000 departed.
That means net migration – which is the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving – stood at 606,000.
This represents a record high, and an increase of 118,000 on 2021.
Chart showing total arrivals and arrivals minus departures since 1990.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which compiles the figures, said the rise was driven by non-EU migrants coming to the UK for work, study or humanitarian reasons.
In October 2022, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said her “ultimate aspiration” was to reduce net migration to the UK to the “tens of thousands”.
Official immigration data gathering was disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic and there have been considerable changes to the way the figures are collected.
That means there are problems with comparing these figures with ones from more than a year ago.
UK net migration hit 606,000 last year
How many students come to the UK?
In 2022, the government issued 485,758 student visas.
Half of those were granted to Indian and Chinese nationals.
Students from Nigeria were the next most common nationality of student visa holders, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Students on postgraduate courses could also apply for visas for qualifying dependants: husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner and any children under 18 years old.
In 2022, 135,788 visas were issued to dependants.
However, on 23 May, the government announced it was removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they were on postgraduate courses designated as research programmes.
Students who have already completed their degree can stay in the UK for two years (three years for those with a doctoral degree) to work under a graduate visa.
How has Brexit changed immigration?
Before Brexit, European Union and UK citizens had the freedom to live, work or study in any EU country without needing a work visa.
However, this freedom of movement came to an end on 1 January 2021.
In 2022, net EU migration was -51,000. This means more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.
Net migration of non-EU nationals – the difference between those arriving and those leaving – was 662,000.
There was a net decrease of 4,000 British nationals.
Chart showing net migration from EU, non-EU and British people. It shows that non-EU migration has risen rapidly and is driving net migration.
Many Brexit supporters – including Ms Braverman – argue that leaving the EU has given the UK more control over its migration policy.
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out restoring freedom of movement and says the UK must wean itself off “immigration dependency”.
What are the current visa rules for economic migrants?
Most people wanting to work in the UK have to apply for a visa through a points-based system (PBS).
A points system was first adopted by the Labour government in 2008, when it applied to migrants from non-EU countries. It was then overhauled by the Conservatives after the Brexit vote.
The current PBS – which covers EU and non-EU migrants – was launched at the end of 2020.
How does the points-based system work?
Applicants need enough points to qualify for a skilled worker visa.