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Introduction
The UK’s immigration landscape is constantly evolving. For businesses, families, and individuals, staying informed about the latest trends is crucial for making sound decisions. On 21 August 2025, the Home Office published its Accredited Official Statistics for the UK immigration system covering the year ending June 2025. These figures provide a comprehensive picture of how many people entered the UK, why they came, how many stayed, and how the system is evolving under recent immigration policy changes.
In this blog, we break down the key highlights—from work, study and family visas to asylum, citizenship, and irregular migration—into clear, digestible insights. Whether you are an employer, migrant, or policy follower, understanding these trends can help you make informed decisions about your future in the UK.
How Many People Came to the UK in 2025?
The latest report reveals a complex picture. While there has been a significant decrease in visas granted for work and study, the number of people extending their stay and gaining settlement has risen. Let’s break down the numbers.
134.8 million arrivals in total, with 56% being British nationals returning home.
2.2 million visitor visas and 19,000 transit visas were issued.
Since its launch in October 2023, 13.4 million Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) have been granted.
For non-visit purposes, 852,000 visas were issued, covering work, study, family, and humanitarian reasons. Here’s a look at the key trends across different visa categories.
Work Visa Statistics 2025: A Shift in Trends
The number of work-related visas has seen a notable decrease. In the year ending June 2025, 183,000 main applicant work visas were granted. This is a 36% drop compared to the previous year, though still higher than pre-pandemic levels.
● Health and Care Worker Visas:
This route saw the most significant decline. Only 21,000 visas were granted to main applicants, with visas for care workers falling by a staggering 88% (7,378). This is a direct result of recent policy changes restricting dependants and increasing salary thresholds. Nursing professionals dropped 80% (3,080).
● Skilled Worker Visas:
The general Skilled Worker route also experienced a decline due to higher salary requirements.
● Temporary Worker Visas:
In contrast, the Temporary Worker route remained stable, with 78,000 visas granted. The Seasonal Worker route, in particular, continues to be a popular option for the agricultural sector.
● Visa Extensions:
While new applications have fallen, applications to extend existing work visas have increased by 23%. This suggests that many skilled workers already in the UK are choosing to stay longer.
For employers, this data highlights the growing importance of retention and strategic workforce planning. Over 121,000 licensed sponsors have been granted by June 2025, but new license approvals have slowed, indicating tougher scrutiny from the Home Office.
Study Visa Statistics 2025: Dependants Policy Makes an Impact
The UK remains a top destination for international students, with 414,000 sponsored study visas granted in the year to June 2025. While this is only a 4% decrease from the previous year, the impact of new government policies is clear.
The most significant change has been the restriction on most international students bringing dependants. As a result, visas issued to dependants of students fell by 81% to just 18,000. This policy shift has financial implications for universities and local economies that benefit from international families.
The Graduate visa, which allows students to work in the UK for two years after graduation, remains a key incentive for attracting international talent.
Family Visa Statistics 2025: A Mixed Picture
Family-related visa applications also saw a decline. 76,000 family visa applications were made, down 23% from the previous year. Around 71,000 family visas were granted, a 15% decrease from the previous year, although nearly double 2022 levels.
● Partner Visas:
The primary driver for this fall was a 27% drop in Partner visas, largely due to the increase in the minimum income requirement.
● Refugee Family Reunion:
In contrast, visas for refugee family reunions reached their highest level since 2005, with almost 21,000 grants. This reflects the growing number of individuals granted refugee status in recent years who are now able to bring their close family members to the UK.
Humanitarian Routes
● 62,000 grants of leave were made under safe and legal humanitarian schemes, 33% fewer than 2024.
● 7,400 refugees were resettled, mainly through the Afghan Resettlement Programme (88%).
Irregular Migration and Small Boats
● 49,000 irregular arrivals were detected, a 27% rise from the previous year.
● 43,000 small boat arrivals made up 88% of these figures.
● Afghans were the most common nationality, representing 15% of small boat arrivals (6,400 people).
Asylum Applications and Decisions
● 111,000 asylum claims were made, the highest on record and 14% higher than 2024.
● Half of applicants arrived through irregular routes, while 37% had originally come on a visa.
● The UK was the fifth highest asylum-receiving country in Europe.
● 48% of asylum decisions were grants of protection, lower than 58% in the previous year.
● The asylum backlog dropped to 71,000 cases (down 47% from its 2023 peak of 134,000).
Settlement and Citizenship: More People are Making the UK Their Permanent Home
While new arrivals have slowed, more people are choosing to settle in the UK permanently.
● Settlement Grants:
There were 163,000 grants of settlement, an increase of nearly 20% from the previous year. The largest group were individuals on work routes, particularly the Skilled Worker route, who had completed their qualifying period.
● Citizenship Grants:
The number of people becoming British citizens rose to 257,000, a 4% increase and more than double the number from just a few years ago. This shows a clear trend of long-term migrants putting down roots and becoming fully integrated into UK society.
● EU Settlement Scheme:
The scheme continues to process applications, with 335,000 grants of settled status in the last year. The introduction of an automated process is helping to transition more people from pre-settled to settled status smoothly.
Refugees and those with protection status also saw a 17% increase in settlement.
EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
● 335,000 grants of settled status were made, slightly fewer than last year.
● 260,000 repeat applications were processed, down 15%, as many pre-settled residents were upgraded automatically.
● 37,000 automatic upgrades were issued in the first half of 2025 via the new digital casework process.
Immigration Detention and Returns
● 22,000 people entered detention, up 14%.
● Albanians remain the largest group, but numbers are falling. Brazilians and Indians more than doubled.
● 9,100 enforced returns were carried out, a 25% increase.
● 5,300 foreign national offenders (FNOs) were returned, up 16%.
What These Figures Mean for Employers and Migrants
The 2025 statistics show a system in transition. Work visa grants have dropped sharply, especially in health and care roles, while settlement and citizenship are climbing as earlier cohorts embed in the UK. Employers face stricter compliance rules and fewer new licences, making retention and internal HR processes more important than ever.
For migrants, pathways to settlement remain open and increasingly used, but rules on dependants and entry requirements are tighter than in previous years.
How Can WorkPermitCloud Help?
At WorkPermitCloud Ltd, we specialise in guiding both employers and individuals through the complexities of UK immigration and HR compliance. From helping employers secure and maintain a sponsor licence to supporting Skilled Worker visa holders on their journey towards settlement or citizenship, we provide tailored solutions that ensure compliance and peace of mind.
📞 Call us: +44 020 8087 2343
📧 Email: info@workpermitcloud.co.uk
📅 Book a free consultation: calendly.com/lutfur-workpermitcloud
Conclusion
The UK Immigration Statistics 2025 highlight major shifts in the immigration landscape. While work and study routes have contracted, settlement and citizenship are on the rise. Employers must adapt to compliance-heavy sponsorship processes, while migrants need clear strategies to progress towards settlement.
Staying informed is vital—whether you are planning to hire overseas talent or secure your long-term future in the UK. At WorkPermitCloud, we are here to guide you through every stage with expertise and care.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
| Arrival | The act of entering the UK, whether as a British national or a non-British national requiring a visa or authorisation. |
| Visitor Visa | A short-term visa that allows non-UK nationals to visit the UK for tourism, business, or family visits, usually up to 6 months. |
| ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) | A digital authorisation allowing eligible individuals to travel to the UK for short stays without applying for a full visa. |
| Work Visa | Permission granted to a foreign national to live and work in the UK under categories such as Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, or Temporary Worker. |
| Skilled Worker Visa | A long-term work route for eligible skilled roles in the UK, requiring sponsorship from a licensed employer. |
| Health and Care Worker Visa | A specific Skilled Worker route for professionals in health and social care, with different eligibility rules and restrictions. |
| Temporary Worker Visa | A short-term visa allowing work in the UK, including Seasonal Worker and Youth Mobility routes. |
| Sponsored Study Visa | A visa for international students sponsored by a UK university, college, or other licensed institution. |
| Family Visa | A visa that allows foreign nationals to join family members living in the UK, including partner, child, and refugee family reunion categories. |
| Humanitarian Route | A safe and legal immigration pathway for people granted leave to remain for protection reasons, such as refugees or those on the Ukraine or Afghan schemes. |
| Irregular Arrival | Entry to the UK without legal authorisation, including small boat crossings and other unauthorised routes. |
| Asylum | Protection granted to individuals who seek refuge in the UK because of fear of persecution in their home country. |
| Settlement (ILR) | Indefinite Leave to Remain; permission to stay in the UK permanently without restrictions after meeting the qualifying period. |
| Citizenship (Naturalisation) | The process of becoming a British citizen, often following settlement, granting full rights of residence and nationality. |
| EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) | A scheme for EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their families to secure settled or pre-settled status in the UK after Brexit. |
| Immigration Detention | The holding of individuals under immigration powers, usually pending a decision on their case or removal from the UK. |
| Enforced Return | The process of deporting or removing individuals from the UK under immigration rules, often following detention. |
