Migration Unmasked: How New Rules Affect Work and Study in the UK

Migration to the UK is witnessing significant changes, with Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour party proposing tougher rules aimed at reducing net migration numbers. Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data indicates that net migration fell to 728,000 for the year to June 2024, down 20% from the previous year which reported 906,000. Changing immigration policies could further shape these figures, including English language tests for visa applicants and dependencies, plus a longer route to settled status.

In detail, figures show that 1.2 million individuals entered the UK, with the majority (about 86%) being non-EU nationals. Notably, the Indian community remains the largest group of migrants coming for work and study. Of those arriving, roughly 82% were of working age while 8% sought asylum. Despite a substantial number of student visas being issued (393,125 in the year ending December 2024), there has been a 14% decrease from the previous year, although this number is still 46% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Since Jan 2024, new rules restrict international postgraduate students from bringing dependants unless enrolled in specific research programs, contributing to an 85% decrease in dependant visas issued. The points-based immigration system also remains rigorous, requiring a job offer at a significantly increasing salary threshold of £38,700.

Family-related visas saw a slight increase, with 86,000 granted, increasing the income requirement to £29,000 to avoid separating families. Meanwhile, visas for working in health and social care dropped by a staggering 81%, indicating that changing rules have drastically affected migration patterns.

Amid shadowed by Brexit’s ending of freedom of movement for EU nationals, the data reveals a negative net migration of -95,000 for EU citizens in the same period, and a -21,000 net migration figure for British nationals—showing more Britons are leaving than returning.

The landscape of UK immigration continues to evolve as the government faces the balancing act of controlling migration flows while aiming to fill key labor shortages through a refined visa process.