National statistics

About this release

Published 29 February 2024

Back to ‘Immigration system statistics, year ending December 2023’ content page.

The Home Office ‘Immigration system statistics quarterly release’ series gives an overview of work on immigration control, entry clearance, asylum and enforcement within the Home Office, including the work of UK Border Force and Immigration Enforcement and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). It helps inform users such as the government, Parliament, the media and the wider public, and supports the development and monitoring of policy.

This release includes the latest statistics for the year ending 2023, on a range of topics including:

• how many people come or plan to come to the UK, and why (for work, study, family reasons, to visit)
• how many people extend their stay while in the UK (through extensions, settlement or citizenship)
• asylum (including asylum support)
• safe and legal (humanitarian) routes (including Ukraine schemes, BN(O) visas, resettlement, and family reunion visas)
• detention under immigration powers
• returns from the UK of those with no legal right to be in the UK

The ‘Immigration system statistics’ release is a National Statistics output produced to the highest professional standards and free from political interference. It has been produced by statisticians in Migration statistics within the Home Office in accordance with the Home Office’s ‘Statement of compliance with the code of practice for statistics’. The Head of Profession for Statistics reports to the National Statistician with respect to all professional statistical matters and oversees all Home Office National Statistics products with respect to the Code of Practice, being responsible for their timing, content and methodology.

The Home Office ‘Immigration system statistics’ series forms part of a larger cross-government Statistical Service ‘Migration statistics transformation plan’ to meet changing user needs, and which will put administrative data at the core of evidence on migration. Improvements to this release, which are part of this programme of work, can be found in ‘Developments in migration statistics’.

1. National Statistics

The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics signifying compliance with the ‘Code of Practice for Statistics’.

Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics, it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.

The statistics last underwent a full assessment against the Code of Practice in February 2012. The continued designation of these statistics as National Statistics was confirmed in September 2018 following a compliance check by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). The OSR report highlighted a number of strengths and made suggestions for improvements.

2. Changes to the release

2.1 Data system transition

The Home Office is transitioning its immigration data to a new system (‘Atlas’). Data is transitioning in stages and certain datasets may be unavailable temporarily during this period. Updates to these datasets will be included in future publications as soon as they are available. In addition, published numbers may be revised in future quarters following this period of change.

2.2 Electronic travel authorization (ETA)

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) figures will be reported, for the first time. This is part of our ongoing commitment to report on data relating to the new immigration system as new routes are introduced. For further details see ‘How many people come to the UK each year (including visitors)?’.

2.3 Extensions of stay

Reporting on grants of extensions of permission to stay by previous category of stay has resumed, with analysis being incorporated into the ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To work’’, ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To study’ and ʻWhy do people come to the UK? For family reasons’. This data was previously published until 2020, when a change to caseworking systems meant the data was no longer available. Data tables will be updated in subsequent quarters.

Statistical commentary on Extension of permission to stay has been moved from the ‘How many people continue their stay in the UK or apply to stay permanently?’ topic, into ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To work’’, ʻWhy do people come to the UK? To study’ and ʻWhy do people come to the UK? For family reasons’. Subsequently, ‘How many people continue their stay in the UK or apply to stay permanently?’ has been renamed to ‘How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?’

3. Migration statistics User Forum

The Migration statistics User Forum has been established for discussion of international migration statistics, allowing users to discuss their need for and use of the data, and for producers to consult on presentation and provide information on proposed changes or improvements to the statistics. The forum is a user-led group with over 200 members and affiliated to the wider Statistics User Forum established by the Royal Statistical Society. The forum meets annually at its conference, usually held in autumn. Home Office Analysis and Insight uses this forum to communicate with migration statistics users, including providing information on new data and publications.

Details of the next annual conference, any other events and information relating to migration publications will be sent to members of the forum via its distribution list. The distribution list is available to join through the MIGRATION-STATS JISCmail list.

4. Other Home Office research and statistics

‘Developments in migration statistics’
In recent years Home Office statisticians have introduced a wide range of changes to the UK migration statistics. These include developments in the department’s national statistics suite of outputs, and a variety of other research and analysis using Home Office and other data sources.

‘EU Settlement Scheme statistics’
Statistics relating to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).

‘Statistics relating to passenger arrivals since the COVID-19 outbreak’
Statistical reports showing the impact of COVID-19 on the immigration system.

‘Irregular migration to the UK’
Statistics on irregular migration to the UK, including small boats.

‘Migrant journey’
Formerly known as ‘Statistics on changes in migrants’ visas and leave status’, this release explores migrants’ journeys through the UK’s immigration system.

‘Migration research and analysis’
Research and statistics on migration to support Home Office policy development and operational activity.

‘Migration transparency data’
Performance data related to areas in the Home Office business plan, and data on borders and immigration activity, which has been regularly requested from the Home Office by the Home Affairs Select Committee.

‘Grenfell immigration policy statistics’
Following the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017, new immigration policies for survivors and relatives were introduced. This report provides official statistics on the survivors and relatives considered under these policies.

‘Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme Statistics’
Provides the latest statistics on the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

5. Other migration outputs

‘Migration Advisory Committee’
(MAC) is an independent, non-statutory, non-time limited, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues. It publishes a range of reports on migration.

‘International migration’ (ONS).
Tool to locate the datasets for all ONS international migration outputs and for updates to international migration outputs.

‘Statistics at DWP’ (DWP).
Research and statistics on migration to support Home Office policy development and operational activity.

6. Further information and feedback

If you have any comments, or suggestions for the development of this report, please provide feedback by emailing MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include the words ‘PUBLICATION FEEDBACK’ in the subject of your email.

Press enquiries should be made to:

Home Office
Press Office
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Tel: 0300 123 3535

The Home Office Responsible Statistician is Jack Cooper.

The Home Office Migration Statistics mission statement is:

We produce timely, accurate and objective statistics on immigration to support effective delivery of Home Office objectives and to inform government, Parliament and the public.