- UK needs immigration to meet demand for labour caused by an aging population being supported by a shrinking proportion of working age people.
- Migration Advisory Committee concluded that increasing net migration has:
- a positive overall impact on productivity and GDP;
- little impact on the employment and wages of UK-born workers;
- (therefore, falling immigration broadly has a negative economic effect).
- UK has similar levels of migration compared to other high-income countries (OECD)
- 19% of the UK’s population was foreign-born (2025)
- share of jobs held by non-UK citizens rose from 12% in July 2014 (3.5 million) to 20% in December 2025 (6.5 million)
- Post-Brexit saw a big increase in non-EU net migration and a big fall in EU net migration
- net migration peaked at over 0.9 million in 2023 and fell to less than 0.2 million in 2025
- immigration peaked at 1.5 million in 2023 and then fell to 0.8 million in 2025
- majority (85%) of visas issued were for study (53%) and work (32%) in 2025
- asylum seekers are only a small part of UK immigration (5% in 2025)
- Despite the recent falls in net migration, the majority public perception (67%) is still that it is increasing
- only 13% believe that net migration is decreasing (January 2026).
- Post-Brexit rise in immigration was due to policy liberalisations by government:
- a post-study work route – making UK more attractive to international students;
- eligibility of care and senior care workers for work visas;
- new humanitarian visa routes for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers;
- subsequent falls in immigration were due to policy restrictions.
- The UK’s post-Brexit immigration system:
- aims to attract “the brightest and best” while reducing lower-skilled immigration
- grants visas to EU and non-EU workers on the same criteria, based on a job offer from a qualifying employer for a qualifying position, and meeting:
- a salary threshold, which can vary by occupation;
- required English language ability;
- additional criteria (eg educational qualifications, specialised skills).
- Free Movement Directive allows EU citizens to reside in another member state for up to three months without conditions:
- residence may continue if the individual is working, studying, self-sufficient, self-employed, or, with some conditions, actively looking for work. If not, the citizen may be deported;
- pre-Brexit, the UK:
- maintained border controls for all entrants;
- had no post-entry controls to assess whether EU citizens met FoM conditions.
6. Immigration
