UK net migration hit 672,000 according to di Office for National Statistics (ONS) for di year wey end June 2023.
While di ONS say dis latest figures indicate “a drop of immigration”, last year net migration total bin reach up to a record of 745,000 – wey dey far higher dan wetin dem bin tink.
How many migrants come UK?
Dem say for di year wey end June 2023, na 1,180,000 pipo bin come UK.
Dis pipo bin dey expected to stay for at least a year, tori be say an estimated 508,000 pipo bin leave.
E mean say net migration – wey be di difference between di number of pipo wey arrive and leave – na 672,000.
Dis show say di number decrease compared to 2022, wen di net migration bin reach 745,000 wey be record.
Majority of di pipo wey come UK, come from kontris outside di European Union (EU).
Di latest figures show say 968,000 bin come from non-EU kontris.
Study (39%) na di main reason wey make non-EU migrants to come, followed by work (33%) and humanitarian reasons (9%), according to ONS release.
Di top five non-EU nationalities na:
- Indian (253,000)
- Nigerian (141,000)
- Chinese (89,000)
- Pakistani (55,000)
- Ukrainian (35,000)
Official immigration data gathering bin get k-leg during di Covid-19 pandemic and since den, tins don change on top di way dem dey collect di figures.
How many students come UK?
For di past 12 months to di end of September 2023, di goment say dem issue 486,107 study visas.
Half of those numbers dem give am to Indian and Chinese nationals.
Followed by students from Nigeria wey be di next most common nationality of student visa holders, followed by Pakistan and di United States.
Students on postgraduate courses fit also apply for visas for qualifying dependants: dia husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner and any children wey dey under 18 years old.
For di year wey end September 2023, dem say dem issue 152,980 visas to dependants.
But on 23 May, goment announce say e go remove dat policy, from 2024, dem say dem go only allow international students wey dey do postgraduate courses wey get to do with research programmes di right to bring dependants.
Students wey don already complete dia degree fit stay for UK for two years (three years for those wey get a doctoral degree) to work under a graduate visa. In di year to di end of September 2023, dem give out 104,501 of dat kain visas, excluding dependents.
How Brexit change immigration?
Before Brexit, European Union and UK citizens bin get freedom to live, work or study for any EU kontri without needing a work visa.
But, dis freedom of movement bin end on 1 January 2021.
For di 12 months to June 2023, net EU migration na – 86,000. E mean say more EU nationals bin leave UK pass as dem enta.
Net migration of non-EU nationals – dat na di difference between pipo wey arrive and those wey leave – na 768,000.
Net migration of British nationals na -10,000. More British pipo bin leave di UK pass di ones wey come back.
Wetin be di current visa rules for economic migrants?
Most pipo wey want to work for UK need to apply for a visa through a points-based system (PBS).
Na Labour goment for 2008 wen bin first adopt A points system, wen dem bin apply to migrants from non-EU countries. Den Conservatives revamp am afta Brexit vote.
Di current PBS – wey dey cover EU and non-EU migrants – na 3rd of 2020 dem launch am at di end of 2020.
How di points-based system dey work?
All applicants need to get di initial 50 points, from getting a job offer wey dey above a minimum skill level and speaking English.
Di remaining 20 points fit come from a combination of salary, to work for occupation wey dey scarce or to get PhD wey dey relevant .
And di standard fee for a skilled visa na usually between £719 and £1,500 and applicants also get to pay £624 healthcare surcharge for each year of dia stay.
Wetin be di ‘shortage occupation list’?
Di “shortage occupation list” dey to help employers fill certain roles. Dis jobs get lower salary, wey dey make am easier for applicants to gain di required number of points to get a visa.
Jobs wey currently dey on di list include:
- care workers
- graphic designers
- construction workers
- vets
Di goment dey update di list based on advice from independent group of experts – wey dem dey call di Migration Advisory Committee.
What about seasonal workers?
Temporary workers like fruit pickers and poultry workers dey covered by seasonal worker visas.
