Accredited official statistics

How many Indefinite Leave (Settlement and EUSS settled status) and Citizenship grants have been issued in the UK?

Published 27 November 2025

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From November 2025, the ‘How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?’ and ‘How many grants of settlement are made via the EU Settlement Scheme?’ topics have been consolidated, to present an overview of the pathways to indefinite leave.

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

The Home Office opened a public consultation, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, in November 2025, on proposals to reform current settlement rules. The consultation is open for a 12-week period, for all respondents wishing to provide their views.

1. Indefinite Leave

Indefinite Leave is an immigration status that allows a person to live, work and study in the UK without any time limit on their stay.

Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain (ILE/R) is also known as ‘settlement’. Most settlement grants are typically issued to individuals who have completed the required qualifying period on an eligible immigration route and meet the relevant eligibility criteria (for example, 5 years under many work or family routes, or 10 years under the long residence route). Indefinite Leave is also granted to individuals under the EU Settlement Scheme, where it is referred to as ‘settled status’.

Section 2: Settlement focuses on grants of ILE/ILR, excluding grants made under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). Section 2 also incorporates an ‘Immediate Settlement’ subsection, which includes individuals who are granted ILE/ILR at the point of application, based on their relationship to a person who is already settled in the UK or is a British citizen.

Section 3: EU Settlement Scheme focuses on grants of ‘settled status’ issued under the scheme, typically granted to individuals who have completed 5 years of continuous residence in the UK.

In the year ending 30 September 2025, there were a total of 491,453 grants of indefinite leave, of which 67% (330,745) were settled status grants under the EUSS, 32% (158,137) were settlement grants under other immigration routes, with the remaining (under 1%) ‘immediate settlement’ grants.

Figure 1: Grants of Indefinite Leave in the UK, year ending September 2011 to year ending September 2025

Source: Table EUSS_QTR, EU Settlement Scheme summary tables, year ending September 2025, Settlement dataset - Se_D02 and Entry Clearance dataset - Vis_D02

2. Settlement

‘Settlement’ is the general term for being granted indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/R) in the UK. It gives people the right to stay in the UK permanently and, where eligible, apply for citizenship. Statistics on the EUSS are reported separately in Section 3 due to the distinct rights, conditions and legislative framework of the route. The number of people granted settlement each year will reflect the number of migrants coming to the UK in earlier years, and the policies regarding the qualifying period required to live in the UK before becoming eligible.

The increase in settlement grants from 2018 reflects a broader upward trend of entry clearance volumes since 2012, alongside an increasing number of individuals granted refugee status.

Figure 2: Grants of ‘settlement’ (ILE/ILR) in the UK, by leave type ^1,2,3 year ending September 2011 to year ending September 2025

Source: Settlement - Se_D02

Notes:

1. ‘Leave type’ in Figure 2 relates to type of leave to enter or remain in the UK held immediately prior to being granted ‘settlement’.

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

3. The ‘Refugee’ 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.

In the year ending September 2025, there were 158,137 grants of settlement, a 6% increase from the previous year. Settlement grants have generally followed an upward trajectory since 2018. The long-term rise largely reflects an increasing number of individuals entering and remaining in the UK for work or family reasons, who later become eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Work-related settlement grants increased by 11% to 59,642 in the latest year. The Skilled Worker route remains the main component of work-related settlement, comprising almost three-quarters of all work-related grants. In the latest year, settlement granted to individuals who previously held a Skilled Worker visa rose by 5% to 43,373, continuing the upward trend seen in recent years and reflecting higher volumes of Tier 2 entry clearance visas granted. Settlement grants to individuals whose latest leave was as a Work Permit holder almost doubled to over 6,500. This category largely comprises people granted leave under the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA), which allowed individuals to work or establish businesses in the UK. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the ECAA route was closed to new entry clearance applications on 31 December 2020.

Family-related settlement grants increased by 5% to 43,942 in the latest year, with most issued to individuals who had previously held a Partner visa. Settlement trends broadly mirror entry clearance patterns in earlier years, with the recent rise reflecting the sustained growth of Partner visas granted in the years leading up to 2019.

There were 35,725 settlement grants for individuals with refugee status or other forms of leave granted for protection reasons in the latest year. Despite a small (-2%) decrease from the previous year, grants were over double the volume in 2019. This is consistent with the increasing number of people granted asylum or resettled between 2015 and 2019. Around two-thirds of those granted refugee permission since 2007 have gained settlement within 7 years, rising to over 90% within 10 years.

Other individuals granted settlement, whose most recent leave type did not fall under Work, Asylum, or Family-related routes, increased by 15% to 18,828 in the latest year, the highest number in the ‘Other’ category since 2022. Most were individuals settling through the Long Residence route, which enables people who have spent a sustained period lawfully living in the UK to apply for indefinite leave to remain. A further 2,122 people were granted indefinite leave to remain under the Private Life route enabling individuals to apply to stay in the UK on the basis of their long-term residence, integration, or compelling personal circumstances, and where removal would disproportionately interfere with their right to respect for private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Immediate Settlement (Family)

Individuals may be granted immediate ILE/ILR under the Family route, typically where an applicant is applying from outside the UK based on their relationship to a person who is already settled in the UK or is a British citizen, with the intention of settling in the UK. In the latest year, there were 2,571 immediate settlement grants, of which 82% (2,102) were issued to children.

Further information about immediate settlement can be found in the ‘Why do people come to the UK – Family?’ topic, and table Vis_D02, Entry Clearance dataset.

3. EU Settlement Scheme

The EUSS enables EU, other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK before the end of the post-EU exit transition period at 11pm on 31 December 2020, as well as their family members, to obtain permission to remain in the UK. The scheme launched on 28 August 2018 and became fully operational on 30 March 2019.

The deadline for most people to apply to the EUSS was 30 June 2021, but certain family members can apply after that to join an EU, other EEA or Swiss citizen in the UK. The deadline for joining family members is generally 3 months after their arrival. In both cases, late applications may be accepted where there are reasonable grounds for the delay.

Individuals who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 but had not yet lived here for 5 years are generally granted pre-settled status (leave to enter or remain). Pre-settled status may also be granted to joining family members. Individuals granted pre-settled status can apply for settled status once they have completed the relevant qualifying period of residence, usually 5 years. There is no deadline for such applications. Further data on pre-settled status grants can also be found in the published data tables. More information on the scheme can be found on the EU Settlement Scheme webpage.

Overview

Since the scheme launched in 2018, 4.3 million settled status grants have been issued.

Two-thirds of grants were issued before the 30 June 2021 deadline. Since then, the number of grants has averaged 87,740 each quarter, mostly to those moving from pre-settled status. From January 2025, some pre-settled status holders meeting relevant criteria may be granted settled status automatically, without submitting a further application. These are reported as automated grants of settled status and are included in the total.

As of 30 September 2025, an estimated 1.5 million people held pre-settled status, though this figure does not necessarily reflect the current resident population, as some may have left the UK. For further information, refer to the ‘Note on the difference between ONS population estimates by nationality and Home Office EU Settlement Scheme statistics’

3.1 How many EUSS settled status grants have there been in the latest year?

EUSS settled status grants have remained stable over the past 4 years, and significantly lower than the peak of 2020.

Figure 3: Total number of EUSS settled status grants, 28 August 2018 to 30 September 2025

Source: Table EUSS_QTR, EU Settlement Scheme summary tables, year ending September 2025

In the latest year, there were 330,745 grants of EUSS settled status, down 5% from the previous year. Numbers have remained broadly stable over the past 4 years, and much lower than the annual peak of 1.7 million settled status grants in the year ending March 2020.

3.2 What types of application have been granted settled status since the 30 June 2021 deadline?

Figure 4: Total proportion of EUSS settled status grants by application type, 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2025

Source: Table EUSS_POST_30_JUNE, EU Settlement Scheme summary tables, year ending September 2025

Notes:

1. Derivative rights conclusions account for less than 1% of all settled status grants per year.

The deadline for those resident in the UK by the end of the EU exit transition period (31 December 2020) was 30 June 2021. As set out above, certain applications can be made beyond this date. Since the 30 June 2021 deadline, there have been just over 1.3 million grants of settled status.

Repeat applications: In the latest year, 237,750 settled status grants were issued to repeat applicants (individuals who have applied to the scheme more than once), a fall of almost a quarter from the previous year. Most grants categorised as ‘repeat application’ are issued to people switching from pre-settled status to settled status. In part, the fall in repeat applications for settled status reflects the introduction of EUSS automation, where some eligible pre-settled status holders may be granted settled status automatically.

Automated grants of settled status: From January 2025, pre-settled status holders meeting relevant criteria may be granted settled status automatically, without submitting a further application. These are reported as automated grants of settled status. Since the introduction of automated grants, an estimated 53,750 individuals have been granted settled status automatically.

Late applications: Late applications may be accepted where there are reasonable grounds for the delay in applying. This includes some applicants who have made a repeat application post-deadline and subsequently gained pre-settled or settled status. In the latest year, 26,281 late applications resulted in a grant of settled status; however, decisions made in the latest year will also include a substantial number of applications submitted in earlier years.

Joining family members: Close family members are eligible to apply to the EUSS as the relevant family member of an EU, other EEA, or Swiss citizen who was resident in the UK before the end of the transition period (and who generally holds EUSS status), provided the relationship existed on 31 December 2020 (unless the person is a child, and born or adopted since then) and the relationship continues to exist at the date of application.

In the latest year, there were 9,556 grants of settled status for joining family members, remaining at a similar level to the previous year. Further information regarding joining family members can be found in the EUSS section of the Immigration System Statistics user guide.

Derivative Rights: This refers to applicants who did not qualify for a right of residence under the Free Movement Directive but may have had a right to reside in the UK under other provisions of EU law prior to the end of the transition period.

In the latest year, there were 1,322 settled status grants issued to those with a derivative right to reside in the UK, a small decrease from the previous year. Further information regarding derivative rights can be found in the EUSS section of the Immigration System Statistics user guide and the EUSS data tables.

Figure 5: Applicants transitioning from EUSS pre-settled to settled status, 28 August 2018 to 30 September 2025

Source: Table EUSS_QTR, EU Settlement Scheme summary tables, year ending September 2025

Figure 5 shows the number of individuals who have transitioned from pre-settled to settled status since the scheme began. This includes individuals who have applied for settled status and those who have been automatically converted without an application. Transitions from pre‑settled to settled status have generally risen since the scheme’s launch, peaking in early 2024, and thereafter, have decreased slightly.

4. 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.

Citizenship grants have decreased in the latest year but remain high, mainly comprising a high number of individuals naturalising following a grant of indefinite leave to remain.

Figure 6: Grants of citizenship in the UK, by application type, year ending September 2011 to year ending September 2025

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

There were 240,613 grants of British citizenship in the latest year, 10% fewer than the previous year, but higher than the number granted in each of the preceding 13 years.

Naturalisation is the process by which a non-British adult may acquire British citizenship following a qualifying period of lawful residence in the UK, and after being granted indefinite leave. It also provides a route to British citizenship for individuals granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and individuals granted pre-settled status who have automatically acquired a permanent right of residence. In the latest year, there were 171,859 grants of citizenship through naturalisation, almost double the number recorded 5 years earlier (95,440). This reflects higher numbers granted indefinite leave to remain going on to apply for British citizenship.

There were 68,754 grants of British citizenship through registration in the latest year, a 14% decrease from with the previous year. Registration enables individuals, through either a legal entitlement or a discretionary process, to acquire British citizenship. This route is most frequently used by children, or those with a defined connection to the United Kingdom, or its overseas territories.

Figure 7: Citizenship grants from the year ending September 2011 to the year ending September 2025, by EU and non-EU applicants

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

In the latest year, there were 189,503 grants to non-EU nationals. This was an 8% decrease from the previous year but follows an upward trend in grants since 2020. During the same period, grants of British citizenship to EU nationals (51,110) decreased by 17%. Despite the decline in the latest year, the number of grants to EU nationals remains high compared with pre-2016 levels (see Figure 7). EU nationals benefited from free movement when the United Kingdom was a member of the European Union, which reduced the incentive to acquire British citizenship during that time.

The subsequent rise in grants to EU nationals followed the announcement of the UK’s departure from the EU in 2016, and later, the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme from 2018, which enables eligible EU nationals to obtain settled status or to automatically acquire a permanent right to reside whilst holding pre-settled status and, after typically holding that status or right for 12 months, qualify for citizenship.

Figure 8: Top 10 nationalities for citizenship grants, by application type group, year ending September 2025

Source: Citizenship detailed datasets - Cit_D02

British citizenship was granted to individuals originating from over 200 countries in the latest year. Figure 8 shows that the top 3 nationalities were India, Pakistan and Nigeria, with grants to the 2 latter nationalities doubling since 2021 and grants to Indian nationals increasing by three-quarters during the same period.

Italian nationals were the most common EU nationality granted British citizenship in the latest year (9,872), but grants to Italian nationals were over a quarter less than in the previous year. Romanian and Polish nationals, along with Italians, form the top 3 European nationalities granted British citizenship and these 3 have accounted for over 40% of all grants of citizenship to EU nationals since 2012.

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

5. About these statistics

The underlying casework systems on which this data is based are undergoing a process of change and therefore the published numbers may change in future quarters. In some cases, data will be unavailable. For more information see section 2.7 of the user guide.

Since May 2022, EUSS statistics have been classified as Official Statistics. Most figures are unrounded, except for estimated repeat applications.

From November 2025, the ‘How many people are granted settlement or citizenship?’ and ‘How many grants of settlement are made via the EU Settlement Scheme?’ topics have been consolidated, to bring together the account of indefinite leave in the UK.

Indefinite leave to enter or remain can be granted to individuals – subject to immigration control – to allow them to live, work, study and travel into and out of the UK without restriction. To be granted indefinite leave to remain, individuals generally must have lived in the UK for a certain length of time in a qualifying category. Those granted indefinite leave to enter or remain 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).

5.1 Settlement

Settlement is the general term for a person being granted indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/R) in the UK. It applies across a range of immigration routes, including Work, Family, Protection and Long Residence, and means the individual no longer has time limits on their stay, can access services on the same basis as British citizens, and may be eligible to apply for citizenship. In Section 2, settlement under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is excluded, as the EUSS operates as a distinct route with its own rights, instead, allotted its own focus in Section 3.

The statistics in this section show the number of grants and refusals on applications for indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK. They take account of the outcomes of reconsiderations and appeals.

5.2 EU Settlement Scheme

The publication includes all EUSS applications from 28 August 2018 to 30 September 2025, including repeat applications as individuals move from pre-settled to settled status. Each application is recorded separately, as casework systems do not contain a single identifier to track individuals across multiple applications. Probabilistic data matching has been developed to estimate the total number of unique applicants and their outcomes.

While most applicants are EU, other EEA, or Swiss nationals, some non-EEA national family members are also included. Applications may also be made by eligible individuals living outside the UK, and individuals may still hold EUSS status despite having left the UK. Therefore, these figures are not directly comparable with UK resident population estimates, which do not reflect migration intentions.

Provisional data on 53,750 automated grants of settled status up to 30 September 2025 is included in the topic narrative and charts but is not yet included in the published data tables. Work is ongoing to integrate these grants into future revisions of the summary and detailed tables.

5.3 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.

Naturalisation and Registration are legal processes through which an adult or a child can become a British citizen and obtain the same rights and privileges as someone who was born a British national. 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. Further details on these legal processes can be found in the user guide.

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.

6. 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

• Entry clearance summary tables

• Entry clearance datasets

• EU Settlement Scheme – summary tables

• EU Settlement Scheme – local authority summary tables

• EU Settlement Scheme – detailed tables

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