In the year 2023, Indians constituted the largest group of immigrants entering the United Kingdom, as reported by the government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). Approximately 250,000 Indians moved to the UK last year, primarily for employment and educational opportunities. This significant influx occurred despite the UK experiencing a net decrease of 10% in overall annual immigration.
Indians have emerged as the top group of migrants to the UK in 2023, with 250,000 individuals relocating mainly for work and studies. This surge in Indian immigration coincides with a 10% drop in net migration to the UK, which fell to 685,000 in 2023 from 764,000 in 2022, according to ONS data.
Out of the 250,000 Indians who migrated to the UK last year, 127,000 came for work, 115,000 for educational purposes, and 9,000 for other reasons. Following Indians, Nigerians were the second-largest group with 141,000 immigrants. The Chinese ranked third, and Pakistanis were the fourth most significant contributors to immigration to the UK.
The ONS data indicates that the overall net migration to the UK dropped by 10% in 2023, totaling 685,000, down from a peak of 764,000 in 2022.
Regarding work visas, the UK issued a total of 337,240 work visas in 2023. Of these, 146,477 were health and care visas. Additionally, 114,409 graduate visas were granted, allowing students to work post-graduation, with 50,503 of these visas being issued to Indians. Indians also received the highest number of study visas, as per the UK Home Office Immigration Statistics.
However, it remains premature to determine if this decline signals the beginning of a new downward trend in immigration.
Approximately 85% of the immigrants to the UK came from countries outside the European Union. Besides Indians, the top five groups of immigrants included Chinese, Pakistani, and Zimbabwean nationals. Analysis suggests that workers from Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan often brought dependents with them, with around 50% of these dependents being under the age of 17.
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the rise in non-EU immigrants. Additionally, some migrants moved to the UK for humanitarian reasons, with around 50,000 individuals coming from Ukraine and Hong Kong in 2023.
However, the number of Indian students attending UK universities has declined. Recent data shows a reduction of approximately 21,800 Indian students this year, according to media reports.
The British Universities' International Liaison Association analyzed data from 75 universities and found that 90% experienced a decline in applications from international students. There was a 27% decrease in total applications for postgraduate courses from international students in 2023 compared to 2022.
