2018 sees increase in visa for Indian students, workers and tourists
The number of student visas issued to Indians has reached the highest level since 2011, according to the latest quarterly report on Immigration Statistics published by the UK Home Office.
Just over 19,500 Indian nationals were granted a Tier 4 student visa in the year ending December 2018. This was a 35% increase on the previous year – the highest total in a single year since 2011. 2018 was a second year of significant increases in this category – meaning Indian student numbers are now over 70% higher as compared to just two years earlier in 2016.
Indian workers continue to receive more skilled work visas than the rest of the world combined - India is responsible for 54% of all skilled work visas granted globally. Over 55,000 skilled work visas were granted to Indian nationals last year – more than 6% higher than in 2017 and the largest increase in numbers for any country.
Indian visitors and tourist numbers also saw strong growth. Visit visas increased by 10% to almost 477,000. More than 1 in 5 (22%) of all UK visit visas in 2018 were granted to Indian nationals.
The British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, said:
These latest figures show yet another major increase in the number of visas granted to Indian nationals. I particularly welcome the strong increases in work and student visas for Indian nationals in 2018. Almost 19,500 Indian students received a Tier 4 visa last year – a 35% increase and follows a 27% increase in 2017.
Likewise, skilled workers from India in 2018 increased at the fastest rate for any country, showing the UK is open to skilled labour and Indian business. We still issue more skilled work visas to Indians than to the rest of the world combined.
This is fantastic news for the UK-India relationship and shows that the UK continues to be a welcoming place for Indians to work, study and vacation. Each visa helps strengthen the living bridge between our two countries bringing us closer together and making both our countries stronger. I look forward to working with the Government of India to see this impressive record continue.
Further information:
All stats relate to the year January to December 2018, and are compared with the year from January to December 2017.
The full statistical release can be found online on the Office for National Statistics’ website.
Migration statistics are updated quarterly to provide an accurate picture of UK visa trends. Upcoming releases will cover a 12 month period in the following format:
| Q1 2019 – April 2018 – March 2019 – released 23 May 2019 |
| Q2 2019 – July 2018 – June 2019 – released August 2019 |
| Q3 2019 – October 2018 – September 2019 – released November 2019 |
| Q4 2019 – January 2018 – December 2018 – released February 2020 |
Media
For media queries, please contact:
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Press and Communications, British High Commission,
Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
Tel: 24192100; Fax: 24192400
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