National statistics

Admissions

Updated 26 May 2016

Valid: 26 May 2016 to 24 August 2016

Total passenger admissions data are available up to the year ending March 2016; data on the purpose of journey (e.g. visit, work, study) to the year ending June 2015; and for individual nationalities are available up to the end of 2014.

Back to ‘Immigration statistics January to March 2016’ content page.

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1. Key facts

The total number of journeys increased by 5% to a record 124.4 million in the year ending March 2016 (+5.7 million). This increase was accounted for by 5.4 million more journeys by British, other EEA and Swiss nationals (up 5% to 109.2 million) and 0.3 million more journeys by non-EEA nationals (up 2% to 15.2 million), compared with the previous 12 months.

For non-EEA nationals, more detailed data by category are less up to date than the totals. There were 14.9 million journeys in the year ending June 2015, 4% more than in the previous 12 months, and the highest number since the data series began. There was an increase in the work (+8%; +12,300) category along with falls for the study (-7%; -13,800), family (-17%; -4,060) and student visitor (-3%; -9,470) categories. The number of visitors increased by 6% (+0.5 million).

The number of passengers refused entry at port fell by 6% to 17,294 in the year ending March 2016 (-1,079).

2. Admissions by purpose of journey: non-EEA nationals

Year Total admissions (Millions) Work Study Student visitors (1) Family Visitors (Millions) Other (Millions)
Year ending Jun 2011 13.1 161,000 303,000 246,000 42,600 7.6 4.7
Year ending Jun 2012 13.2 142,000 212,000 295,000 33,800 7.8 4.7
Year ending Jun 2013 13.1 145,000 202,000 268,000 26,500 8.0 4.4
Year ending Jun 2014 14.4 158,000 197,000 294,000 24,600 8.8 4.9
Year ending Jun 2015 14.9 170,000 183,000 284,000 20,500 9.3 5.0
Change: latest year +0.6 +12,300 -13,800 -9,470 -4,060 +0.5 +0.1
Percentage change +4% +8% -7% -3% -17% +6% +2%

Table notes

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Admissions table ad 02 q.
(1) Student visitors are allowed to come to the UK for 6 months (or 11 months if they will be studying an English Language course) and cannot extend their stay. The student visitor category was introduced in 2007 and may include individuals previously recorded as visitors, so for consistency and comparability over time they have been excluded from study-related totals. For further discussion of study and student visitors, see the Study section. For both visitors and student visitors, non-visa nationals do not require a visa for visits of up to 6 months, so total figures for admissions are not directly comparable with total visitor or student visitor visas.

The chart below illustrates longer-term trends in passengers entering the UK by calendar year.

Shows the total number of journeys made into the UK by broad nationality between 2004 and the latest calendar year available. Prolonged UK recession starts in 2008 and continues into 2009. The data are available in Table ad 01.

Chart notes

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Admissions table ad 01.

4. Top 5 non-EEA nationalities admitted, 2014

(Total number of admissions: 14.6 million)

The chart shows admissions by nationality in 2014. Top 5 nationalities account for over half (55%) of all journeys made. The chart is based on data in Table ad 03.

Chart notes

Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2016, Admissions table ad 03.

5. Data tables

Further data on admissions and passengers refused entry at port are available in Admissions tables ad 01 to ad 04.

6. Background information

The figures in this section relate to the number of journeys made by people entering the UK. Where an individual enters the country more than once, each arrival is counted. For non-EEA nationals who are subject to immigration control, more detailed information is available on their nationality and purpose of their journey.