Home Office release quarterly and annual immigration statistics for 2019

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released quarterly and annual immigration statistics for the year ending September 2019. The statistics involve numerous topics, including people ‘coming to the UK, extending their stay, gaining citizenship, applying for asylum, and being detained or removed, as well as immigration for work, study and family reasons’.

Work 

There were 189,459 work-related visas granted in the year ending September 2019, 11% higher than the previous year, and the highest level since the year ending 31 March 2008, around the time when a new immigration system (also known as ‘the points-based system’ (PBS)) was first introduced.

The majority (64%) of the increase in the latest year was driven by Skilled (Tier 2) work visas, which increased by 12% to 111,035. The Skilled (Tier 2) category accounts for 59% of work-related visas granted.

There was also an increase in Youth mobility and temporary worker (Tier 5) visas granted, up 7% to 43,636; an increase in the High value (Tier 1) category, up 14% to 5,817; and an increase in non-PBS work categories, up 10% to 28,971.

Study

In the year ending September 2019, there were 276,889 Sponsored study (Tier 4) visas granted (including dependants), a 16% increase of 37,510 more than the previous year, and the highest level since 2011. Chinese and Indian nationals together account for over half of all Tier 4 visas granted (43% and 11% respectively).

The majority (86%) of those applying to come to the UK on a Sponsored study visa apply to study at higher education (university) institutions. In the year ending September 2019, Sponsored study visa applications for the higher education (university) sector increased by 14% to 222,047, the highest level on record.

Family

There were 180,257 visas granted for all family reasons in the year ending September 2019, 23% more than in the previous year.

There was a large increase in EEA family permits granted (up 43% to 47,027), as well as increases in family-related visas granted (up 19% to 52,802) and dependants of people coming to the UK on other types of visas (up 11% to 77,762).

Source: Gov.uk