Why do people come to the UK? (4) For family reasons
Published 25 May 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-january-to-march-2017/why-do-people-come-to-the-uk-4-for-family-reasons
Back to Immigration statistics January to March 2017 content page.
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Data relate to the year ending March 2017 and all comparisons are with the year ending March 2016, unless indicated otherwise.
This section includes figures on family-related visas and settlement granted for non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals. It also includes figures on long-term immigration to accompany or join (i.e. those intending to stay for at least 12 months to study) for non-EU nationals.
For figures on residence documentation issued to EEA nationals and their family members see How many people continue their stay in the UK?.
1. Key facts
The combined total number of family-related visas granted, including European Economic Area (EEA) family permits granted to non-EEA nationals, and visas granted to dependants of other visa holders (excluding visitors) increased by 2,267 (2%) to 136,787 in the year ending March 2017.
In the year ending December 2016, estimates from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) showed that 52,000 non-European Union (EU) nationals immigrated long term to the UK to accompany or join others, that is with the intention of staying for a year or more. This was not a statistically significant change on the previous year (43,000). However, statistics on those arriving to accompany or join others are not directly comparable with visa statistics.
2. Family immigration: latest trends
| Year ending March 2016 | Year ending March 2017 | Change | Percentage change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family-related visas granted | 38,142 | 38,719 | +577 | +2% |
| of which: | ||||
| Partners | 29,358 | 30,201 | +843 | +3% |
| Children (1) | 3,019 | 2,476 | -543 | -18% |
| Other dependants | 5,765 | 6,042 | +277 | +5% |
| All dependants on other visas (excl. Visitor visas) | 65,506 | 64,603 | -903 | -1% |
| EEA Family permits granted | 30,872 | 33,465 | +2,593 | +8% |
| Total (family-related visas granted, all dependants on other visas excl. Visitor visas, EEA Family permits granted) | 134,520 | 136,787 | +2,267 | +2% |
| Year ending December 2015 | Year ending December 2016 | Change (2) | Percentage change | |
| ONS estimates for non-EU long-term immigration to accompany or join others (2) | 43,000 | 52,000 | +9,000 | +21% |
Table notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2017, Visas table vi 01 q (Visas volume 1), Office for National Statistics (ONS), Migration Statistics Quarterly Report.
(1) This category does not include children of a parent given limited leave to enter or remain in the UK for a probationary period. They are included in ‘All dependants on other visas (excl. visitor visas)’.
(2) The increase had an estimated confidence interval of +/-11,000.
(3) Immigration to accompany/join others data are estimates of the number of non-EU nationals intending to change their residence to the UK for at least 12 months based on the IPS. Latest 12 months for long-term immigration to accompany or join others data are to the year ending December 2016 and are provisional.
3. Long-term trends in family immigration
IPS estimates of non-EU immigration of those accompanying or joining others in the UK include those arriving on family visas, as well as persons accompanying those who are arriving for other reasons, such as for work or study.
The chart below shows that IPS estimates of immigration to accompany or join others have over the long term followed a broadly similar trend to the total number of visas granted by the Home Office through the family route and to other dependants. IPS estimates are substantially lower as they exclude people who come to the UK but intend to stay for less than a year. Both measures of immigration for family reasons / to accompany or join others have generally fallen over the long term since the year ending March 2007, albeit with short-term increases in 2010 and again in 2013.
Long-term trends in family immigration
Chart notes
Source: Home Office, Immigration Statistics January to March 2017, Visas table vi 04 q (Visa volume 1); ONS (provisional estimates for year end to December 2016), Migration Statistics Quarterly Report.
(1) Includes all dependants (such as dependants for work and study), but excludes visitors.
4. Settlement
Family-related grants of settlement (to allow individuals to stay permanently) fell by 5,632 (51%) to 5,359 in the year ending March 2017. This continues the overall downward trend since the year ending March 2010 (75,852).
The latest decreases are likely in part to reflect changes to the family Immigration Rules in July 2012. For details see the Family section of the User Guide to Home Office Immigration Statistics.
5. Data tables
Data on family immigration, sourced from Home Office administrative systems, can be found in the following tables:
Visa tables volume 1
Visa tables volume 2
Visa tables volume 3
Admissions tables
Extensions tables
Settlement tables