About this release
Published 28 February 2019
© Crown copyright 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-year-ending-december-2018/about-this-release
Back to ‘Immigration Statistics, year ending December 2018’ content page.
The Home Office ‘Immigration Statistics’ series gives an overview of work on immigration control, entry clearance, asylum and enforcement within the Home Office, including the work of UK Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and UKVI. It helps inform users such as the government, Parliament, the media and the wider public, and supports the development and monitoring of policy.
The release includes the latest statistics, up to the end of December 2018, on a range of topics including:
- How many people come or plan to come to the UK based on admissions data
- Entry clearance visas, including information on those coming for study, work and family reasons as well as to visit
- Extensions of stay
- Settlement
- Citizenship
- Asylum and resettlement
- Detention under immigration powers
- Returns (both enforced and voluntary returns)
The ‘Immigration Statistics’ release is a National Statistics output produced to the highest professional standards and free from political interference. It has been produced by statisticians working in the Migration and Borders Analysis Unit within the Home Office Analysis and Insight Directorate in accordance with the Home Office’s ‘Statement of compliance with the code of practice for statistics’ which covers our policy on revisions and other matters. The Chief Statistician, as Head of Profession, reports to the National Statistician with respect to all professional statistical matters and oversees all Home Office National Statistics products with respect to the Code of Practice, being responsible for their timing, content and methodology.
The Home Office ‘Immigration Statistics’ series forms part of a larger cross Government Statistical Service Migration statistics transformation plan to meet changing user needs, and which will begin to put administrative data at the core of evidence on migration.
1. National Statistics
The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics (see the ‘Code of Practice for statistics’ for more details).
Once statistics have been designated as National Statistics, it is a statutory requirement that the Code of Practice shall continue to be observed.
The statistics last underwent a full assessment against the Code of Practice in February 2012.
The continued designation of these statistics as National Statistics was confirmed in September 2018 following a compliance check by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). The OSR report highlighted a number of strengths and made suggestions for improvements.
2. Changes to the release
The information published in the quarterly Immigration Statistics is kept under review, accounting for the needs of users, and burdens on suppliers and producers, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. Feedback on the release, including any changes, and proposals for future changes, are welcome. If you have any comments, suggestions or enquiries, please email the team at: MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Details of previous improvements made to this series can be found in development in migration statistics.
3. Future changes
Landing cards
On 5 August 2017, the Home Office launched a consultation on a proposal to end the requirement for non-EEA passengers to present a paper landing card on arrival into the UK from 1 October 2017. The consultation set out the statistical implications of the change and how to respond to the consultation, which closed on 2 September 2017. The Home Office is currently reviewing the large number of responses it received.
Data table development
We intend to review the format of our published data tables in order to make the data more accessible to users. The aim is to provide users with greater flexibility to use the data in the format they require, while ensuring key statistics are easily accessible. To ensure this is possible, some of the existing breakdowns in the data may change. These changes are intended to take effect in 2019. Users are invited to comment on specific uses of the data to ensure their needs are met.
Enforcement data review
The Home Office is proposing to review the enforcement data that it publishes to ensure it provides a comprehensive overview of the detention and returns. This will involve a consultation in 2019, inviting public views on its proposals. However, if you have any comments on the statistics currently published in this section and the associated data tables, including information that you find particularly helpful and information that you would like to see published in the future, please send these to MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.
4. Migration Statistics User Forum
The Migration Statistics User Forum has been established for discussion of international migration statistics, allowing users to discuss their need for and use of the data, and for producers to consult on presentation and provide information on proposed changes or improvements to the statistics. The forum is a user-led group with over 200 members and affiliated to the wider Statistics User Forum established by the Royal Statistical Society, which meets annually at its conference, usually held in autumn. Home Office Analysis and Insight uses the user forum for communication with migration statistics users, including providing information on new data and publications.
Details of the next annual conference, any other events and information relating to migration publications will be sent to members of the forum via its distribution list. The distribution list is available to join through the MIGRATION-STATS JISCmail list.
5. Other Home Office research and statistics
Migration research and analysis
Research and statistics on migration to support Home Office policy development and operational activity.
Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation
Released on 29 November 2018
Experimental statistics containing data on asylum claims, initial decisions and appeals of cases where sexual orientation formed part of the basis for the claim.
Migration transparency data
Performance data related to areas in the Home Office business plan and data on borders and immigration activity which has been regularly requested from the Home Office by the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Statistics on changes in migrants’ visa and leave status: 2016
Released on 22 February 2018
This release, is the eighth in the series, and explores migrants’ journeys through the UK’s immigration system.
Third report on statistics being collected under the exit checks programme
Released on 23 August 2018
The report provides data collected on travellers departing and arriving in the UK as part of the Home Office exit checks programme with a particular focus on the requirements for statistical reporting rather than the operational use of the data.
Developments in migration statistics
Released on 28 February 2019
An update of the developments and future plans for the Home Office migration statistics.
6. Other migration outputs
Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, ONS
Released on 28 February 2019
A summary of the latest official long-term international migration statistics for the UK for the year ending September 2018 published by Office for National Statistics (ONS). Data from the Home Office, HESA and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are also included.
Student adjustment paper, ONS
Released on 28 February 2019
Guidance for users containing the methodology and reason for revising official long-term International Passenger Survey (IPS) estimates of non-EU study.
Update on our population and migration statistics transformation journey: a research engagement report, ONS
Released on 30 January 2019
An update on ONS’s population and migration statistics transformation using administrative data.
The UK’s future skills-based immigration system, Home Office Released on 19 December 2018
White paper setting out the government’s plans to introduce a new single immigration system, ending free movement.
Building our understanding of the migration evidence, ONS
Released on 23 August 2018
An update of the Migration Statistics Transformation Programme for August 2018.
Report on international migration data sources: July 2018, ONS Released on 16 July 2018
An update on our migration statistics transformation plans, our recent analysis of Home Office administrative data, in collaboration with Home Office experts and our IPS data assurance review.
Migration statistics transformation update: May 2018, ONS Released on 24 May 2018
An update of the Migration Statistics Transformation Programme for May 2018.
What’s happening with international student migration?, ONS
Released on 24 August 2017
An update on our progress towards developing a better understanding on student migration to and from the UK since the April 2017 update.
Office for National Statistics international migration articles, ONS
All ONS articles relating to international migration.
International migration – table of contents, ONS Released on 29 November 2018
Tool to locate the datasets for all ONS international migration outputs.
Nationality at point of National Insurance number registration of DWP working age benefit recipients: data to November 2017, DWP Released 28 February 2019
These statistics provide the number of claimants receiving one or more DWP Working Age benefits broken down by nationality.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent, non-statutory, non-time limited, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues. It publishes a range of reports on migration.
7. Further information and feedback
The content and format of the quarterly release and associated data tables is currently being reviewed. This means the release may be subject to change in the future. As well as general feedback on the release, we are particularly interested in user views on:
- the level of detail provided in the commentary on a quarterly basis and in the more substantial August release, which follows changes implemented in response to the user consultation that ran at the end of 2016
- accessibility, formatting and usability across the suite of data tables
- key areas of the release that are particularly important to you, and how you use them
If you have any comments, or suggestions for the development of this report, please provide feedback by emailing MigrationStatsEnquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please include the words ‘PUBLICATION FEEDBACK’ in the subject of your email.
Write to:
The Editor, Immigration Statistics
Migration Statistics
14th Floor Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon
CR9 2BY
Press enquiries should be made to:
Home Office Press Office
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Tel: 020 7035 3535
The Home Office Responsible Statistician is Bex Newell. The Home Office Migration Statistics mission statement is:
We produce timely, accurate and objective statistics on immigration to support effective delivery of Home Office objectives and to inform government, Parliament and the public.