UK Net Migration Drops by 20% Amid Dependants Rule Change

By Neerav December 1, 2024
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The UK has recorded a significant drop in net migration, with figures decreasing by 20% to 728,000 in the year ending June 2024, compared to 906,000 the previous year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The decline has been attributed in part to a reduction in the number of international students bringing dependants.

A rule introduced in May 2023, barring most international students from bringing dependants, came into effect on 1 January 2024. This policy, which exempts research-based postgraduate programmes and government-sponsored students, has led to an 84% drop in dependant visas granted between January and September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

ONS Director of Population Statistics, Mary Gregory, stated, “The fall in immigration is driven by declining numbers of dependants on study-related visas from outside the EU.” The data also revealed that student visa grants fell by 19% year-on-year, although they remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the overall high levels of migration, noting that nearly one million people came to the UK in the year ending June 2023, four times the migration levels seen in 2019. The government has pledged to address this issue, with a white paper on immigration reduction plans set to be published soon.

Critics have raised concerns about the potential economic and cultural impact of the policy on UK universities. With international students contributing £37.4 billion annually to the UK economy, stakeholders stress the importance of maintaining the UK’s reputation as a welcoming destination for global talent.

The government’s Migration Advisory Committee is conducting a review to assess the broader effects of the policy changes on the UK’s education sector and economy.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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