National statistics

How many people continue their stay in the UK or apply to stay permanently?

Updated 14 November 2023

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Data relates to the year ending June 2023 and all comparisons are with the year ending June 2022 (unless indicated otherwise).

All data includes dependents, unless indicated otherwise.

1. Extension of temporary stay in the UK

There were 669,061 grants of extension in the UK (including both main applicants and dependants) in the year ending June 2023, 52% more than in the year ending June 2022. Over four-fifths of the increase in extensions in the latest year (81% of 229,934) were for work. The work category includes 119,816 grants in the year ending June 2023 in the new Graduate route allowing students to remain in the UK after completing their studies.

Table 1: Grants by reason^1,2 and refusals of extensions of temporary stay in the UK, years ending June 2022 and June 2023

Year ending	Total grants	Work	Study	Family	Other	Total refusals	Total decisions
June 2022	439,127	240,790	33,653	125,149	39,535	7,663	446,790
June 2023	669,061	428,162	66,495	130,255	44,149	13,626	682,687
Change (latest year)	+229,934	+187,372	+32,842	+5,106	+4,614	+5,963	+235,897
Percentage change	+52%	+78%	+98%	+4%	+12%	+78%	+53%

Source: Extensions – Exe_D01

Notes:

1. The type of extension relates to the category in which the individual extended. Some individuals would have extended in their existing category, while some would have changed category.
2. ‘Other’ includes the British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)) route and cases where the category of grant has not been recorded. ‘Other’ also includes extensions granted to Ukrainian nationals and their family members on Ukraine schemes. For further information see the Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK.

1.1 Extensions for work

There were 428,162 grants of extension for work, up 78% in the year ending June 2023 compared to the previous year. Work is the most common route in which people extended.

Within the work category:

• ‘Worker’ (Skilled work) extensions - 280,302 granted of which 160,662 were to main applicants and 119,640 to the dependants of main applicants; just over half (53%) of all main applicants were in the Human Health and Social Work Activities sector, 11% in Information and Communications, 9% in Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities and 7% in Financial and Insurance Activities; Sponsorship table CoS_D01 provides numbers in different industry sectors
• ‘Other work visas and exemptions’ - 137,645 granted, mainly reflecting 119,816 extensions granted in the Graduate category, an increase of 80% on the previous year; Indian nationals accounted for over two-fifths (42%) of grants in the Graduate route in the year ending June 2023; additional analysis of Migrant Journey data shows that 20% of students whose leave expired in 2022 switched to the Graduate route following their studies
• ‘Investor, business development and talent’ category – includes 4,882 grants under the Global talent route, an increase of 2,292 (+88%) on the year ending June 2022

1.2 Extensions for family reasons

There were 130,255 ‘family-related’ grants of extensions in the year ending June 2023, 4% more than in the year ending June 2022. In the year ending June 2023, there were 80,317 grants in the Family Life (10-year) route, 33% (+20,121) higher than in the year ending June 2022. There were 48,913 grants in the Family: Partner route, 23% (-14,920) lower than in the year ending June 2022.

Pakistani, Indian and Nigerian nationals accounted for nearly two-fifths (38%) of ‘family-related’ extensions granted, a similar proportion (40%) to the year ending June 2022.

1.3 Extensions for study

Sponsored study extensions granted nearly doubled (+98%) in the year ending June 2023 to 66,495. Chinese nationals accounted for nearly two-fifths (39% or 25,647) and Indian nationals 14% (9,153).

1.4 Extensions for other reasons

There were 44,149 extensions granted in the ‘Other’ category in the year ending June 2023, 12% more than in the year ending June 2022. The ‘Other’ category includes:

• the Ukraine Schemes, which accounted for 28% (12,575) of grants of extension in the ‘Other’ category; further information on Ukrainians arriving in the UK this year can be found in Statistics on Ukrainians in the UK
• 6,145 extensions in the British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)) route in the year ending June 2023; the BN(O) route accounted for 14% of extension grants in the ‘Other’ category; further information on arrivals with a BN(O) visa can be found in the How many people come to the UK topic
• 17,961 extensions granted in the Private Life category, accounting for over two-fifths (41%) of grants of extension in the ‘Other’ category

1.5 Long-term trends in grants of an extension

Figure 1: Grants of extensions, by reason¹, years ending June 2011 to June 2023

Source: Extensions – Exe_D01

Notes:

1. ‘Other’ excludes extensions granted to individuals who are unable to travel home because of travel restrictions or self-isolation related to COVID-19 (108,418 in the year ending June 2020 and 8,266 in the year ending June 2021)

Figure 1 shows that overall number of extension grants fell from 304,308 in the year ending June 2011 to 192,272 in the year ending June 2017. Since then, there has been an increase in extension grants with a rapid increase in the year ending June 2022 (to 439,127) and in the year ending June 2023 (to 669,061). In the ‘Work’ category, the increase in extensions since the COVID-19 pandemic has been primarily driven by the requirements from the Human Health and Social Work sectors, and extension grants in the new Graduate work route.

Details and key rule changes affecting the long-term trends in grants of an extension by route were published in the Immigration System Statistics year ending March 2023 release.

2. Settlement

There were 116,997 grants of settlement in the UK in the year ending June 2023, 3% fewer than in the year ending June 2022.

Settlement grants for asylum-related and resettlement reasons decreased by 22% to 31,531 grants in the year ending June 2023, compared to the previous year.

Settlement grants for family reasons decreased by 4% (-1,326) to 32,332.

Settlement grants to those previously in the UK for other reasons, primarily long residence or discretionary leave, decreased by 7% to 15,824.

In contrast, settlement grants for ‘Skilled workers’ (formerly Tier 2) increased by 18% to 25,481 grants in the year ending June 2023, compared to the previous year.

Table 2: Grants by reason^1,2 and refusals of settlement in the UK, years ending June 2022 and June 2023

Year ending	Total grants	Work	Asylum	Family	Other	Refusals	Total decisions
June 2022	120,470	29,196	40,631	33,658	16,985	1,446	121,916
June 2023	116,997	37,310	31,531	32,332	15,824	2,392	119,389
Change: (latest year)	-3,473	+8,114	-9,100	-1,326	-1,161	+946	-2,527
Percentage change	-3%	+28%	-22%	-4%	-7%	+65%	-2%

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. Trends in numbers applying for settlement will in part reflect policies and patterns of migration some years earlier.
2. ‘Other’ includes grants on the basis of Long Residence, Private Life, BN(O) routes and grants on a discretionary basis. Also includes a small number of cases where the category of grant has not been recorded.

2.1 Long-term trends in grants of settlement

Grants of settlement numbers have been increasing year on year from year ending June 2017, but are still below the numbers of grants seen in the early 2010’s. Details and key rule changes affecting the long-term trends in grants of settlement by route were published in the Immigration System Statistics year ending March 2023, but changes in the number of people granted settlement will in all cases partly reflect policies and patterns of migration some years earlier.

Figure 2: Grants of settlement in the UK, by reason¹, years ending June 2011 to June 2023

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. Reason relates to type of leave held immediately prior to being granted settlement.

Figure 2 shows the number of settlement grants fell from 209,761 in the year ending June 2011 to 58,262 in the year ending June 2017 but have since risen, reaching a total of 116,997 in the year ending June 2023.

3. EEA nationals and their family members

Since 30 March 2019, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens resident in the UK by the end of the transition period at 11pm on 31 December 2020, and their family members, have been able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.

The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

The latest quarterly statistics show that 7.4 million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme had been received up to 30 June 2023, of which 7.2 million had been concluded.

Of the 7.4 million total applications received an estimated 6.2 million people have applied to the scheme, of which 5.6 million applicants had obtained a grant of status. Of the 6.2 million people applying to the scheme, 1,076,140 (17%) were repeat applicants.

It is estimated that a total of 5,663,800 EEA and 486,800 non-EEA nationals had applied to the EUSS up to 30 June 2023 (non-EEA nationals can apply as family members).

Further information and detailed breakdowns of EUSS applications and their conclusions can be found in the latest quarterly EUSS statistical release.

UK residence documents issued under EU law are no longer valid as evidence of a right of residence in the UK, but applications received by 31 December 2020 are still being processed. More information is available in section 5.3 below and on the relevant visas and immigration pages.

4. Citizenship

4.1 Applications for British citizenship

There were 210,465 applications for British citizenship in the year ending June 2023, 17% more than in the year ending June 2022.

There were 49,478 applications for citizenship by EU nationals, 4% more than in the year ending June 2022. There were 160,987 applications for citizenship made by non-EU nationals, 22% more than in the year ending June 2022.

Applications from non-EU nationals represented 76% of total citizenship applications, with the remaining 24% of applications coming from EU nationals.

Figure 3: Number of applications for British citizenship from EU and non-EU nationals^1,2, years ending June 2013 to June 2023

Source: Citizenship detailed dataset Cit_D01

Notes:

1. Series are based on current EU membership; for example, Croatia (who joined the EU in 2013) are included in the EU total for the entire time series.
2. The high number of applications made in 2013 may have reflected people anticipating the rule change to the English language element of the ‘Life in the UK’ test as of 28 October 2013. See the Policy and Legislative Changes Timeline for details.

Figure 3 shows that the number of non-EU applications had remained at a similar level between mid-2014 and mid-2020, and has increased since then, whilst EU applications increased between mid-2016 and mid-2021, but have since decreased.

4.2 Grants of British citizenship

There were 180,218 grants of British citizenship in the year ending June 2023, 7% fewer than in the year ending June 2022.

There were 41,349 grants of citizenship by EU nationals, 31% fewer than in the year ending June 2022. There were 138,869 grants of citizenship made by non-EU nationals, 5% more than in the year ending June 2022.

Grants to non-EU nationals represented 77% of total citizenship grants, with the remaining 23% of grants coming from EU nationals. This is the lowest percentage of grants to EU nationals since 2017.

Figure 4: Number of grants of British citizenship for EU and non-EU nationals, years ending June 2013 to June 2023

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

Italian nationals were the top EU nationality granted citizenship in the year ending June 2023 (8,244), followed by Romanian (5,726), and Polish (5,393) nationals. These 3 nationalities accounted for almost half (47%) of the grants of British citizenship to EU nationals in the year ending June 2023, and have consistently accounted for over 40% of grants to EU nationals each quarter since 2013.

There were 138,869 grants of British citizenship to non-EU citizens in the year ending June 2023, 5,982 or 5% more than in the year ending June 2022. The top non-EU nationals granted British citizenship in the year ending June 2023 were Indian (16,819), Pakistani (15,373), and Nigerian (8,383) nationals. These 3 nationalities accounted for almost one-third (29%) of all grants to non-EU nationals in the year ending June 2023, the lowest proportion since 2010.

The peak of 208,095 total grants in 2013 occurred prior to a change to the English language element of the ‘Life in the UK’ test. Prior to 2013, the highest number of citizenship grants was 203,789 in 2009.

Grants by reason and refusals of British Citizenship can be found in the Citizenship summary tables.

6,030 people have applied for British citizenship up to the end of June 2023 under new routes introduced in the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 to correct historical unfairness in nationality legislation. Of these, 125 have been granted British citizenship under provisions for people who would have been able to become both British overseas territories citizens and British citizens, if women had been able to pass on citizenship at the time of their birth or if their parents were married, and other historic unfairness (from July 2022), and 2,160 under provisions for people connected with the British Indian Ocean Territory (“Chagossians”) (from November 2022).

5. About these statistics

The statistics in this section refer to individuals who have leave to remain in the UK who wish to extend, or make permanent, their right to remain in the UK.

Before 2021, due to the application to the UK of European Union (EU) free movement law, the majority of UK immigration control related to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. From 2021, unless otherwise stated, data in this release relates to both EEA and non-EEA nationals.

Data in this section should be viewed in the context of wider policy and legislative changes, which can impact the number of applications and decisions. Availability and allocation of resources within the Home Office should also be considered. This can affect the number of decisions made in a given period. For example, fewer citizenship decisions were made in 2015 when UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) resources were used to assist HM Passport Office.

The statistics should not be used to make inferences about the size of the non-British population in the UK. The data does not show whether, or for how long, an individual remains in the UK once their right to remain has been extended or made permanent. Statistics on resident foreign populations in the UK are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

5.1 Extension of temporary stay in the UK

Extensions of temporary stay in the UK relate to individuals inside the UK extending or changing the status of their right to stay in the UK. An individual is required to apply for an extension or change in status before their existing permission to enter or stay in the UK expires.

The statistics in this section show the number of grants and refusals in a given year on applications for extension of temporary stay in the UK. One individual may have made multiple applications for an extension, so may account for multiple decisions in a given period. Data in this section includes dependants and takes account of the outcomes of reconsiderations and appeals.

The statistics do not show the number of people applying to extend their temporary stay in the UK, nor do they show how long an individual stayed in the UK following their extension.

The statistics in the previous immigration category of students granted an extension were estimated for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Data for 2017 are unaffected.

On the 31 March 2020, as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government announced that NHS frontline workers visas would be extended. On 29 April 2020, it was announced that other frontline health and care workers would also receive visa extensions. Healthcare professionals whose visas were due to expire between 31 March 2020 and 1 October 2020 were given a free, year-long extension. On 20 November, it was announced that this had been extended to cover visas expiring between 1 October 2020 and 31 March 2021. On 9 April it was announced that this would be extended to cover visas expiring up until 30 September 2021. Home Office Management Information indicates that there was a total of 19,912 extensions granted to health workers and care workers and their dependants, under these policies.

Further information on the statistics in this section can be found in the extension section of the user guide.

5.2 Settlement

Settlement can be granted to individuals – subject to immigration control – to allow them to work, study and travel into and out of the UK without restriction. To be granted settlement, individuals generally must have lived in the UK for a certain length of time in a qualifying category. Those granted settlement can access state benefits and register their UK-born children as British citizens. It does not entitle the individual to a British passport (which requires British citizenship) or to vote in a general election (which requires British, Commonwealth, or Irish Republic citizenship).

The statistics in this section show the number of grants and refusals in a given year on applications for settlement in the UK. They take account of the outcomes of reconsiderations and appeals.

The data on settlement refusals relates to cases where settlement was refused and no other form of leave was granted. Cases where settlement was refused but an extension was granted instead (for example, where an individual has not met the qualifying period for settlement) will not be included in the refusal figure.

Individuals who leave the UK for more than 2 years may have their settlement status revoked, except in exceptional circumstances. The statistics do not differentiate between those granted settlement for the first time and those granted settlement multiple times.

5.3 EEA nationals and their family members

Documents issued under EU law are no longer valid as evidence of a right of residence in the UK. Applications received by 31 December 2020 and the outcomes of appeals are still being processed.

The EU Settlement Scheme enables EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens resident in the UK by the end of the transition period at 11pm on 31 December 2020, and their family members, to obtain a UK immigration status. Further information about the EU Settlement Scheme can be found at Apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled status). The scheme is a simple digital system which enables applicants to obtain, free of charge, settled status or pre-settled status in the UK. Find out more about what settled and pre-settled status mean.

The statistics in this section show the number of registration certificates and registration cards issued, and the number of documents certifying permanent residence and permanent residence cards issued in relation to applications made by 31 December 2020.

Statistics of decisions on applications for residence under EU law can be found for 2004 to June 2023 in tables EEA_01 and EEA_02 and for 2006 to June 2023 in the form of a detailed dataset. When the last applications for these documents are decided the data tables will no longer be updated but will still be available for reference.

Browse: Visas and immigration has more information about applying for residence documentation and how the status of EU citizens in the UK will be secured now the UK has left the EU.

Figures on applications received and cases currently outstanding in the European casework route (along with other information such as percentage processed within service standards) can be found in ‘In-country migration data’.

5.4 Citizenship

British citizens can live and work in the UK free of any immigration controls. They can apply for a British passport, register to vote in all forms of election and referenda, and share in all the other rights and responsibilities of their status.

Dual citizenship (also known as dual nationality) is allowed in the UK. This means people can be both a British citizen and a citizen of other countries.

If someone is not already a British citizen based on where and when they were born, or their parents’ circumstances, they can apply to become one.

The statistics in this section show the number of applications and grants for British citizenship.

In May 2023, the Home Office published the ‘Migrant journey: 2022 report’, which explores changes in non-EEA migrants’ visa and leave status as they journey through the UK’s immigration system.

6. Data tables

Data referred to here can be found in the following tables:

• Extensions summary tables
• Detailed extensions datasets
• Settlement summary tables
• Detailed settlement datasets
• Citizenship summary tables
• Detailed Citizenship datasets
• European Economic Area (EEA) tables

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