Written by Armaan Kumar Singh
In 2024, Indian nationals continued to top the list of immigrants to the United Kingdom. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that approximately 240,000 Indian citizens moved to the UK in the year ending June 2024. This figure surpasses contributions from other non- EU countries, with Nigeria sending 120,000 immigrants, Pakistan 101,000, China 78,000, and Zimbabwe 36,000.
The majority of Indian immigrants arrived primarily for work and education. Indian nationals secured the highest number of work visas, particularly in the health and care sectors. Notably, they also received the largest share of graduate visas, with over 50,000 approvals, allowing them to work in the UK after completing their studies.
Overall UK Immigration Declines Amid Policy Reforms
The UK saw a 20% decrease in net migration, falling from 906,000 in the year ending June 2023 to 728,000 by June 2024. This decline is linked to stricter immigration policies, including tightened rules for student visas and restrictions on dependents.
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Recent policy reforms restricting the ability of most international students to bring dependents have resulted in a notable reduction in Indian student applications. From October 2023 to September 2024, student visas issued to Indian nationals dropped by 19%, while visas for dependents plummeted by 69%.
UK- India Trade Relations Affect Migration Trends
The recent UK-India trade agreement features provisions that exempt Indian staff temporarily assigned to the UK from National Insurance Contributions. This development may prompt more Indian firms to relocate employees to the UK. While the agreement allows for only 1, 800 additional visas annually for certain professionals, it underscores the UK’ s reliance on Indian expertise in critical roles, particularly in health and social care sectors.
