2024 UK Net Migration Figures Reveal a Drop in Net Migration
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), net migration to the UK fell to 431,000 people in 2024.
There has been a mixed reaction to the news.
In this blog, our UK Immigration Lawyers look at the 2024 net migration statistics.
ONS net migration data
If the 2024 net migration figure of 431,000 people does not need to be adjusted, it represents a nearly 50% reduction in net migration to the UK, as in 2023, the net migration figure was around 860,000 people.
For more statistics, see: Long-term international migration, provisional - Office for National Statistics.
The Home Office statistics can be found here.
What is net migration?
It is worth reminding ourselves what net migration means.
Immigration figures include the number of people arriving in the UK each year through applying for Work, Family, or Business Visas, asylum claimants, and those arriving through non-legal means. The latter includes small boat channel crossings and people who go on to make a refugee or asylum claim on arrival in the UK.
However, from that gross immigration figure, a net migration figure is calculated. In the ONS glossary, net migration is defined as:
‘’The difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK (immigration) and the number of people leaving to live elsewhere (emigration)’’.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) helpfully clarifies how net migration is calculated. In its policy paper on net migration, published in May 2025, MAC describes net migration as:
‘’ a measure of the difference between the number of people moving into the UK (immigrants) and the number of people leaving it (emigrants) during a specific period, usually a year. However, rather than counting every migrant in the statistics, only those who are expected to remain in the UK for a minimum defined period of time are included. The ONS, who produce the UK net migration statistics, use the United Nations’ (UN) definition of a long term migrant which refers to those “who move from their country of usual residence for a period of at least 12 months”. While this is conceptually clear, it can be difficult to accurately estimate in practice as for some migrants the expected length of stay will not be clear’’.
What are the net emigration figures?
Emigration figures in the UK rose in 2024, amounting to around an 11% increase, compared to the 2023 figure.
The push factor of a double-digit increase in emigration partially explains the nearly 50% fall in the 2024 net migration figure. However, pull factors (such as significant changes in immigration rules) also explain the fall in the number of people seeking to enter the UK legally on Work, Family, Student or Business Visas.
Provisional net migration figures
The latest ONS statistics cover the year ending December 2024 and are described as provisional figures or, in ONS speak, "official statistics in development."
In previous years, net migration figures have risen substantially from the original statistics, and it remains to be seen if there will be much difference between the released provisional figures and the finalised ones.
In the MAC study paper, the Migration Advisory Committee comments on the provision of official statistics in development, saying:
‘’If the ONS continues to publish data to its current timetable, it will always need to make assumptions on the future behaviour of migrants to determine whether they are long-term migrants, using data based on past behaviour. Therefore, there will always be some level of correction required as future behaviour is uncertain and patterns may change. This raises the issue of the trade-off which exists between accuracy and timeliness. Whilst timely statistics are welcomed, the large revisions of the ONS’ provisional net migration statistics means it may be preferable to delay producing the statistics so there are fewer and smaller revisions. Consistently large revisions can undermine confidence in the statistics, even if they are planned and happen for a known reason’’.
Why has net UK migration fallen in 2024?
Mary Gregory, Director of Population Statistics at the ONS, said net migration had fallen because of these trends:
- Reduction in the number of Work Visa and Student Visa applicants.
- Fall in Dependant Visa applications.
- Increased emigration, especially amongst those who originally came to the UK on Student Visas.
The statistics behind the fall in 2024 UK net migration
The 2024 figures show that non-EU nationals entering the UK can be broken down into five categories, with number one being the most popular:
- Student Visas- 266,000
- Work Visas- 262,000
- Asylum – 95,000
- Family Visas – 76,000
- Humanitarian – 51,000
In percentage figures, Work Visas statistics are:
- A 39% fall in Work Visa applications compared to 2023 figures.
- An 85% reduction in Health and Care Worker Visa applications, compared to 2023 statistics.
- Other Work Visas, including the Skilled Worker Visa route, fell by 23% compared to the 2023 figures.
The figures for family visas were fairly stable, but that’s because the Family Visa category is not confined to Spouse Visas, Unmarried Partner Visas, and Civil Partner Visas. Partner Visas with a financial requirement as part of the eligibility criteria were reduced by around 17% compared to the 2023 figures.
Student Visa applications show a marked change in trend. Student Visa applications were reduced by around 10%. However, Dependant Visa applications by family members of international students fell by a massive 83%.
The reasons for the fall in visa applications
Immigration Solicitors in London say the changes to the UK immigration rules resulted in a sharp fall in:
- Applications for Student Visas from international students who were married or had children and wanted their families to be able to accompany them to the UK on Dependant Visas. The new immigration rules severely restrict Dependant Visas for the families of most international students.
- Applications for Health and Care Worker Visas from senior carers or carers who wanted to bring family members to the UK on Dependant Visas. The new immigration rules prevent these overseas carers from being accompanied by family.
- Applications for Skilled Worker Visas because of the increase in the salary threshold to £38,700.
- Applications for Family Visas, including Spouse Visas, Unmarried Partner Visas and Civil Partner Visas, because of the increase in the financial requirement from £18,600 to £29,000.
Taking a rounded view on net migration
Politically, all the major parties are calling for a fall in net migration and expecting government policy to achieve that goal, but here is what the Migration Advisory Committee policy paper has to say about managing a reduction in net migration:
‘’The government can relatively easily adjust work-visa policy, for example, and expect this to translate into higher or lower visa grants. By contrast, it is more constrained on family migration (due to the expectation of a right to family life), and especially on asylum (where policies often have limited impacts). One challenge for the government is that the categories that are easiest to reduce are often the ones that are more economically beneficial (namely, skilled work visas and international students).’’
Talk to the immigration experts at OTS Solicitors
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