Migration Observatory

How many migrants in the UK have settlement? - Migration Observatory This commentary estimates the number of non-EU citizens who currently have settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

A key recent discussion about UK migration has been people's rights to settle permanemently - or "indefinite leave to remain" - but how many people have this status? Our latest piece gives you the info (NB - doesn't include EU settlement scheme) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

How many migrants in the UK have settlement? - Migration Observatory This commentary estimates the number of non-EU citizens who currently have settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

A key recent discussion about UK migration has been people's rights to settle permanemently - or "indefinite leave to remain" - but how many people have this status? Our latest piece gives you the info (NB - doesn't include EU settlement scheme) migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

Children of migrants in the UK - Migration Observatory This briefing looks at the children of migrants, including those born abroad and those born in the UK to foreign-born parents

We also look at the most common visa categories among children, how many have No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), what share of migrant families with children face housing deprivation and more. Check it out 👇

The share of children born to migrant mothers in England & Wales has been rising. Our updated Children of Migrants briefing shows this is largely due to UK-born women having fewer children on average — and to shifts in the composition of the UK’s migrant population.

Student Migration to the UK - Migration Observatory This briefing examines non-european student migration to the UK including where they come from, their characteristics, who sponsors them, and how many eventually settle in the country.

Want to know more? Check out our newly updated briefing on student migration.

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...

Nigerian and Indian international students are more likely to still be in the UK after five years, while US and Chinese students are much less likely.

45% of international students who came to the UK in 2022 had switched to another visa by the end of 2024.

Students were most likely to have switched onto the Graduate route, but there was also more switching onto long-term work visas than before Brexit.

Student Migration to the UK - Migration Observatory This briefing examines non-european student migration to the UK including where they come from, their characteristics, who sponsors them, and how many eventually settle in the country.

Our updated briefing on student migration to the UK looks at the restrictions on student dependants, graduate visa trends, and how international students contribute to universities' revenue. Check it out 👇

Between 2022–2024, the UK issued 19% fewer international student visas — yet universities still enrolled around 730,000 people from abroad in 2023/24, a quarter of all students. India, China & Nigeria led new arrivals.

Want to learn more? Check out the full briefing — and special thanks to Fragomen for their support in producing this piece.

We also offer new analysis on the gender pay gap among Skilled Workers. Despite being a male-dominated route, women on these visas earn more, on average, than full-time female workers in the wider UK workforce.

Why the change? More male students and the 2024 ban on dependants have skewed UK study visas towards men. Women remain the majority in Health and Care, partner, humanitarian, and refugee family reunion visas—but policy changes are limiting these routes.

Although migration to the UK is roughly gender-balanced, our analysis shows that 2023 was the first time in at least seven years that men outnumbered women in visa and refugee grants.

Migration and gender in the UK - Migration Observatory This report looks at how different immigration routes affect men and women, and how this has changed over time.

Do migration policies impact men and women the same way? Our latest briefing on Gender and Migration to the UK takes a closer look at this question

Labour’s pledges on migration: the data - Migration Observatory This commentary examines the Labour government’s progress towards its goals on migration after a year in government.

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

Labour has made several migration pledges since entering government, from reducing net migration to ending the use of asylum hotels.

Has progress been made towards achieving these pledges? Take a look at our tracker (in the next post) to find out.

Migration Statistics User Forum 2025 A webinar for users and producers of international migration statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Home Office

The event of the year is back again! The Migration Statistics User Forum - 11th Dec 2025.

Your opportunity to find out what ONS, Home Office and other govt data teams and others are planning on migration, and tell them what other stats you need

Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/migration-...

Monthly entry clearance visa applications, September 2025

Source here: www.gov.uk/government/s...

New monthly visa data:
➤ Skilled worker visa applications fell following July restrictions on care workers & mid-skilled jobs
➤Student visa applications similar to last year
➤Family visa applications ticking back upwards after the peak & decline that followed MIR increase

🚨We're hiring a Policy Manager

Do you have substantial public affairs experience, a deep understanding of how immigration and employment laws can perpetuate exploitation, and a genuine passion for social justice?

Yes? ➡️ Apply now!
No? ➡️Send to a friend 😉

www.workrightscentre.org/publications...

It's a new academic year here in Oxford. Last year we published more than 40 briefings, commentaries and other releases, and provided analysis to hundreds of media outlets. If you support our independent rigorous analysis you can make a donation here migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/about/donate/

Here's what you need to know about conviction and incarceration rates among British and foreign nationals, in 3 posts 👇

How do conviction rates and prison populations differ between British and foreign nationals? - Migration Observatory This commentary outlines what available data can tell us on how convictions and prison populations compare for migrants and the UK population.

Are foreign nationals more or less likely to be convicted or imprisoned than British citizens? Our new commentary sets out what the data can tell us (and what it can’t).

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

Refugee Integration Outcomes (RIO) Insights: Embarks, Economic Activity, and Housing between 2015 and 2021

www.gov.uk/government/p...

New data provides fascinating insights into outcomes of recent refugees granted status between 2015 and 2020

Both asylum (ARR) and resettled refugees (RR) struggled in labour market, but particular the latter - likely reflecting that many were selected based on vulnerability

link to data in reply

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4 Investigates, Inside the Migrant Hotel Sue Mitchell takes listeners into the closed world of the migrant hotels.

Fascinating insight from @BBCfileon4 into life inside asylum hotels - from cooking food in the bathtub to intense boredom, illegal working, and children in the UK so long they have British accents

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

First small boat migrant returned under new UK-France agreement The UK government begins removals under landmark treaty with France.

Govt promises "rapid review of modern slavery legislation" to "prevent its misuse"

This follows litigation on whether an asylum seeker due to be removed to France could challenge the refusal of a negative modern slavery decision

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Q&A: Who is responsible for housing asylum seekers and refugees? - Migration Observatory This Q&A discusses who is responsible for housing asylum seekers and refugees in the UK.

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...

Who is responsible for housing asylum seekers and refugees?

In our new Q&A, we cover the following:

Sharp increase in homelessness among newly granted refugees was one of the reasons Home Sec cited for recent restriction on refugees' ability to sponsor family members

Our latest Q&A provides background on the new policy

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/co...