Net migration reached its lowest level since early 2021, with fewer non-EU nationals arriving for work

By EIN

Long-term international net migration to the UK fell to an estimated 171,000 in the year ending December 2025, nearly halving from an updated estimate of 331,000 a year earlier, according to provisional figures published by the Office for National Statistics today.

The ONS' latest statistical bulletin can be read online here.

Net migration in 2025 reached its lowest level since early 2021, when the UK's post-Brexit immigration system was introduced and international travel restrictions for the COVID-19 pandemic remained in place.

The ONS says that the decline was mainly driven by fewer arrivals from outside the EU for work-related reasons. The number of non-EU+ nationals arriving for work fell by 47% compared with the previous year, while overall emigration declined slightly.

Total long-term immigration to the UK was provisionally estimated at 813,000, down 20% from 1.01 million in the year ending December 2024 and continuing a downward trend from a peak of 1.47 million in March 2023. Most arrivals remained non-EU+ nationals, accounting for 627,000 of the total.

Among non-EU+ migrants, study remained the most common reason for moving to the UK. The ONS estimated that 47% arrived for study-related reasons, while 23% came for work. A further 14% were asylum applicants, with smaller shares arriving through family and humanitarian routes.

Long-term emigration was estimated at 642,000, down from 680,000 in the previous year. The ONS said this reflected a slower increase in non-EU+ departures and a larger decline in emigration among EU+ nationals.

By nationality group, provisional net migration for non-EU+ nationals was 350,000, down from 511,000 a year earlier. Net migration for British nationals remained negative at -136,000, while net migration for EU+ nationals was -42,000, meaning more people left the UK than arrived in both groups.

The ONS said the figures remain provisional and revised previously published estimates for periods between September 2024 and June 2025 using additional travel and administrative data, though it said the updates had only a minimal effect on earlier estimates. The release also included methodological changes to better identify people remaining in the UK while awaiting visa decisions, reducing the risk that they are incorrectly recorded as having emigrated.

Responding to the ONS' figures, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement: "Net migration has fallen by 82% in just three years. We will always welcome those who contribute to this country and wish to build a better life here. But we must restore order and control to our borders. As these statistics show, real progress has been made, but there is still work to do. That is why I am introducing a skills-based migration system that rewards contribution and ends Britain’s reliance on cheap overseas workers."

Separately today, the Home Office published its latest immigration statistics for the year ending March 2026, showing continued declines in work-related migration alongside a lower number of asylum claims.

Home Office data showed 252,775 work visas were granted across all work categories in the year to March 2026, down 17% from the previous year and 59% lower than the peak reached in late 2023. The sharpest falls were on skilled routes, with 110,725Skilled Worker visas granted, which is 76% below the peak in December 2023. The Home Office said the decline was largely driven by fewer Health and Care visas, particularly after policy changes affecting overseas recruitment and dependant eligibility.

There were 93,525 asylum claims in the year ending March 2026, down 12% from the previous year, although still well above levels seen before 2021. Just over half of claimants had arrived through irregular entry routes such as small boats, while 39% had previously entered the UK on a visa or other leave.

The Home Office said 128,300 people received an initial decision on an asylum claim during the year, up 32% on the previous year. The initial grant rate fell to 39%, down from 49% a year earlier and well below the recent peak of 77% in 2022, reflecting a higher proportion of refusals.

The largest numbers of asylum claimants came from Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sudan, which together accounted for 46% of all claims. Grant rates varied significantly by nationality, with initial decisions resulting in protection more frequently for applicants from Sudan (93%) and Eritrea (87%), while lower grant rates were recorded for Bangladesh (14%), Turkey (18%) and India (1%).

The asylum backlog fell significantly. At the end of March 2026, there were 48,758 people (relating to 35,744 cases) awaiting an initial decision on their asylum claim. This was 55% less than at the end of March 2025 and the lowest level since September 2019. The Home Office said the fall reflected a sustained increase in the number of initial decisions being made in recent years, alongside improvements in decision-making capacity and productivity.