National statistics

How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?

Published 29 February 2024

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

Data relates to the calendar year 2023 and all comparisons are with the year 2022 (unless indicated otherwise). All data includes dependants, unless indicated otherwise.

1. Settlement

People in the UK who meet certain criteria may be entitled to settlement. This allows them to remain in the UK indefinitely.

There were 119,150 grants of settlement in the UK in 2023, 9% fewer than in 2022.

Grants of settlement have been broadly increasing since 2016 but are still below the number of grants seen in the early 2010s. Although grants of settlement decreased in 2023, it was still the second highest year for grants since 2013.

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 reflect policies and patterns of migration some years earlier.

Figure 1: Grants of settlement in the UK, by leave type^1,2, 2011 to 2023

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. ‘Leave type’ relates to type of leave held immediately prior to being granted settlement.
2. ‘Refugee’ includes grants under the Family Indefinite Leave to Remain exercise and grants under resettlement schemes.

Figure 1 shows the number of settlement grants fell from 154,701 in 2013 to 60,670 in 2016 but have since risen, reaching a high of 131,627 in 2022.

Table 1: Grants by leave type^1,2,3 and refusals of settlement in the UK, 2022 and 2023

Reason	2022	2023	Change	Percentage change
Total grants of which:	131,627	119,150	-12,477	-9%
Work	32,137	42,929	+10,792	+34%
Refugee	48,010	29,676	-18,334	-38%
Family	32,166	32,836	+670	+2%
Other	19,314	13,709	-5,605	-29%
Total refusals	1,666	3,008	+1,342	+81%
Total decisions	133,293	122,158	-11,135	-8%

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 leave immediately prior to the grant of settlement has not been recorded.
3. ‘Refugee’ includes grants under the Family Indefinite Leave to Remain exercise and grants under resettlement schemes.

The pattern of settlement by type has changed over the past decade. Compared to the period 2011 to 2013, work is still the most common reason for settlement, although the number has decreased. Family-related settlements also decreased, but settlement following a grant of refugee status has been increasing.

Settlement grants following work-related leave accounted for over a third (36%) of the total settlement grants in 2023. Settlement grants for work reasons have seen the largest increase in 2023 with 42,929 grants (up 34% from 2022). Settlement grants for ‘Skilled workers’ (formerly Tier 2) accounted for 71% of all grants within the work category.

Settlement grants to refugees decreased by 38% to 29,676 grants in 2023, compared to the previous year. These changes will reflect patterns of grants in refugee status in earlier years. Analysis from the Migrant journey: 2022 report shows that over two-thirds of people granted refugee permission since 2007 went on to get settlement between 5 and 6 years later, with 95% having some form of indefinite leave to remain within 7 years.

There were 32,836 grants of settlement to people on family routes in 2023, similar to the previous year.

Settlement grants to those previously in the UK for other reasons, primarily long residence or discretionary leave, decreased by 29% to 13,709.

2. Citizenship

People with British citizenship have the right to live and work in the UK without any immigration control and may apply for a British passport. British citizenship is defined by the British Nationality Act 1981. People may be eligible for British citizenship (or ‘naturalisation’) for a number of reasons. Further details on eligibility can be found on GOV.UK.

There were 202,041 grants of British citizenship in 2023, 15% more than in 2022.

There were 47,259 grants of citizenship to EU nationals, 4% more than in 2022. There were 154,782 grants of citizenship to non-EU nationals, 19% more than in 2022.

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

Figure 2: Number of grants of British citizenship for EU and non-EU nationals, 2013 to 2023

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

Figure 2 shows in 2023 the number of citizenship grants were at their highest level since 2013. Recent increases in citizenship grants are driven by the rise in non-EU nationals granted citizenship since 2020.

Italian nationals were the top EU nationality granted citizenship in 2023 (10,636), followed by Romanian (6,335), and Polish (5,871) nationals. These 3 nationalities accounted for almost half (48%) of the grants of British citizenship to EU nationals over that period and have consistently accounted for over 40% of grants to EU nationals each quarter since 2013.

The top non-EU nationals granted British citizenship in 2023 were Indian (18,288), Pakistani (16,440), and Nigerian (8,836) nationals. These 3 nationalities accounted for over one-quarter (28%) of grants to non-EU nationals in 2023.

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

3. EEA nationals and their family members

Since 30 March 2019, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 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.

416,880 applications to the EU Settlement Scheme were granted either settled status or pre-settled status in 2023.

EU Settlement Scheme grants decreased by 16% in the most recent year, compared to 495,770 grants in 2022, and far lower than the first full year of the scheme (April 2019 to March 2020) when 2.9 million applications were granted.

For more information on the EU Settlement Scheme see the separate Home Office published statistics.

4. About these statistics

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

Before the end of the transition period for the UK leaving the EU on 31 December 2020, EU nationals were able to come to the UK under freedom of movement and did not typically require separate permission (such as a visa). The majority of UK immigration control before 2021 related to non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. From 2021, EEA nationals became subject to immigration controls and are now more likely to obtain permission to travel to or remain in the UK. For many this will be under the EU Settlement Scheme (see EU Settlement Scheme statistics), while others will require a visa.

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).

More information about the statistics can be found in the user guide.

4.1 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 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.

4.2 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.

4.3 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).

Statistics of decisions on applications for residence under EU law can be found in tables EEA_01 and EEA_02 and 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.

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. Data tables

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

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

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