Accredited official statistics

How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?

Published 22 May 2025

Back to ‘Immigration system statistics, year ending March 2025’ content page.

Data relates to the year ending March 2025 and all comparisons are with the year ending March 2024 (unless indicated otherwise).

1. Settlement

People in the UK who meet certain criteria can apply for settlement in the UK. A settlement grant provides individuals with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, removing any limitations on the duration of their stay. Information on the number of people granted settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme is not included in this chapter, but in the separate chapter on the EU Settlement Scheme, see ‘How many grants of settlement are made via the EU Settlement Scheme?’

The number of people granted settlement each year will reflect the number of migrants coming to the UK in earlier years and policies regarding the qualifying period required to live in the UK before becoming eligible for permanent residence. Key rule changes affecting the long-term trends in grants of settlement by route were summarised in the Immigration system statistics, year ending March 2023.

The number of settlement grants in the UK have increased over the last 4 years and are currently the highest annual total since the year ending September 2011.

In the year ending March 2025, there were 172,798 grants of settlement in the UK, representing a 33% increase compared with the previous year. As shown in Figure 1, the number of grants has shown a sustained upward trend since the year ending March 2017, reversing 6 consecutive years of decline. Notably, the only exception to this upward trend occurred in the year ending March 2021, which saw a slight decrease compared to the previous year.

In the latest year, grants of settlement increased across all the main settlement categories:

• asylum-related routes: there were 45,543 grants of settlement to individuals whose most recent leave was under refugee status, humanitarian protection, discretionary leave, or exceptional leave to remain. This is the highest annual total since the year ending December 2022

• family routes: a total of 44,770 individuals were granted settlement following leave under family formation or reunion routes - the highest figure for any year ending March since 2014

• work routes: there were 64,470 grants of settlement to individuals whose most recent leave was for work - the highest annual total since the year ending September 2012

The increases across the asylum, family, and work routes were key contributors to the overall rise in settlement grants. Despite this recent growth, the total number of grants remains significantly below the peak recorded in the year ending March 2011, when over 227,000 grants of settlement were issued.

Figure 1: Grants of settlement in the UK, by leave type^1,2,3, year ending March 2011 to year ending March 2025

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. ‘Leave type’ relates to type of leave to remain in the UK held immediately prior to being granted settlement.

2. ‘Other’ includes grants based on Long Residence, Private Life, BN(O) routes and grants on a discretionary basis. Also includes a few cases where the category of leave immediately prior to the grant of settlement has not been recorded.

3. The ‘Asylum’ category refers to individuals granted settlement in the UK following a period of residence after being recognised as refugees or receiving another form of protection, such as exceptional leave, humanitarian protection, or discretionary leave.

Table 1: Grants by leave type^1,2,3 and refusals of settlement in the UK, year ending March 2024 and year ending March 2025

Reason	Year ending March 2024	Year ending March 2025	Change	Percentage change
Total grants of which:	129,746	172,798	43,052	33%
Work	44,534	64,470	19,936	45%
Asylum	33,116	45,543	12,427	38%
Family	37,830	44,770	6,940	18%
Other	14,266	18,015	3,749	26%
Total refusals	2,454	2,800	346	14%
Total decisions	132,200	175,598	43,398	33%

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. ‘Leave type’ relates to type of leave to remain in the UK held immediately prior to being granted settlement, except for Long Residency.

2. ‘Other’ includes grants based on Long Residence, Private Life, BN(O) routes and grants on a discretionary basis. Also includes a few cases where the category of leave immediately prior to the grant of settlement has not been recorded.

3. The ‘Asylum’ category refers to individuals granted settlement in the UK following a period of residence after being recognised as refugees or receiving another form of protection, such as exceptional leave, humanitarian protection, or discretionary leave.

1.1 Work

The number of settlement grants to individuals whose most recent leave type was work-related (64,470) increased by almost half (45%) compared to the previous year. The proportion of main applicants to dependants has risen consistently over the last 4 years to 62%, marking the highest proportion for year ending March, since 2018.

Grants of settlement to individuals who most recently held leave under the Skilled worker route (49,493) increased by 54% from the previous year. The latest year figure is the highest number of settlement grants to Skilled worker visa holders since the route’s introduction in 2008. The increase in settlement grants for Skilled workers reflects a sustained rise in the number of individuals granted leave to enter the UK under the Tier 2 (General) route between 2012 and 2019.

In the latest year, there has been a 36% increase in settlement grants for individuals who held a work permit, marking the highest year ending March figure in 11 years (4,726). The work permit category primarily includes individuals who previously held leave to remain in the UK under the Turkish European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA) route, as well as those who were representatives of overseas businesses

For more information – see Why do people come to the UK? Work.

1.2 Family (Formation and Reunion)

Grants of settlement to individuals whose most recent leave type was family-related (44,770), increased by 18% from the previous year. Of these, nearly two-thirds (63%) were wives who had previously joined their spouses in the UK.

Over the same period, 2,535 individuals were granted settlement under the Family Life (10-year route), nearly 3 times the number recorded in the previous 12 months. Grants under this route have been rising steadily since 2022. This route, introduced in the Family and Private life 2012 Immigration rules, allows individuals who do not meet the criteria for the 5-year route to settlement but who have established genuine family life in the UK to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

1.3 Asylum

Grants of settlement to individuals who had arrived in the UK as refugees or had been granted another form of protection status (45,543) increased by over a third (38%) from the previous year. This increase may, in part, reflect the higher number of individuals granted asylum or resettlement between 2015 and 2019 compared with the preceding 5-year period. As individuals granted protection are typically given 5 years’ limited leave before becoming eligible to apply for settlement, there is often a delay before asylum or resettlement volumes are reflected in settlement statistics.

The Migrant Journey: 2024 report shows that, of people granted refugee permission as their first form of leave to remain since 2007, nearly two-thirds went on to obtain settlement within 7 years, with the vast majority (94%) having obtained some form of indefinite leave to remain after 10 years.

1.4 Other

Grants of settlement to individuals whose most recent leave type did not fall under work, asylum, or family-related routes - categorised as ‘Other’ (18,015) increased by just over a quarter (26%) from the previous year. Within the ‘Other’ category, most grants were to individuals applying under the Long Residence route - a pathway to settlement for those who have lived lawfully and continuously in the UK for 10 years or more.

Individuals who have lived in the UK for a long period but have not met the 10-year lawful and continuous residence requirement may instead be eligible to apply for settlement under Appendix Private Life. Like the Family Life route, the Private Life route was introduced in 2012. The first instances of settlement grants under this route occurred in 2022. In the latest year, there were 2,062 grants of settlement from this route, 5% fewer than the previous 12-month period (2,166).

2. Citizenship

People with British citizenship have the right to live and work in the UK without any immigration control and can 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 several reasons. Further details on the eligibility to apply for British citizenship can be found on GOV.UK.

In February 2025, the government announced an amendment to the Good Character requirement, placing citizenship restrictions on anyone who enters the UK illegally or who arrives without a required valid entry clearance or electronic valid authorisation having made a dangerous journey, including small boat arrivals. Individuals who arrive without authorisation would in most cases now be refused British citizenship regardless of the time that has passed since their arrival.

Grants of British citizenship in the UK have increased and remain high, with the year ending March 2025 recording the second highest total on record, following the peak of the 2024 calendar year.

There were 269,213 grants of British citizenship in the year ending March 2025, 22% more than the previous year. In the latest year:

• there were 58,496 grants of citizenship to EU nationals (up 15%) and 210,717 to non-EU nationals (up 24%), compared to the previous 12-month period

• citizenship grants have been rising since the year ending March 2021 (128,598), with the total number now more than double that figure, with most of the rise accounted for by people born outside the EU

People granted British citizenship came from more than 200 different countries.

Figure 2: Number of grants of British citizenship for former EU and non-EU nationals, year ending March 2011 to year ending March 2025

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

The most common non-EU nationalities granted British citizenship in the latest year were Indian (24,456), Pakistani (22,611), and Nigerian (13,083) nationals, and these nationalities represented 29% of the total grants to non-EU nationals in this period.

Although the gap between EU and non-EU citizenship grants has widened, the number of grants to EU nationals remains higher than historic levels, Higher numbers of EU citizenship grants likely reflect the impact of the UK’s departure from the EU, including the end of free movement and the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme. That Scheme enabled eligible EU nationals to obtain settled status, providing a qualifying basis for many to subsequently apply for and be granted British citizenship.

Italian nationals were the leading EU nationality granted citizenship in the latest year (12,217), followed by Romanian (7,692) and Polish (7,003) nationals. Together, these nationalities have represented over 40% of such grants since 2012.

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

3. 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.

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

3.1 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.

3.2 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 2025, the Home Office published the Migrant Journey: 2024 report, which explores changes in migrants’ visa and leave status as they journey through the UK’s immigration system.

4. 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

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