About this release
Updated 4 September 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-march-2023/about-this-release
The Home Office ‘Immigration system statistics quarterly release’ 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 and Immigration Enforcement and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). It helps inform users such as the government, Parliament, the media and the wider public, and supports the development and monitoring of policy.
This release includes the latest statistics, up to the end of March 2023, on a range of topics including:
- how many people come or plan to come to the UK, and why (for work, study, family reasons, to visit)
- how many people extend their stay while in the UK (through extensions, settlement or citizenship)
- asylum and resettlement (including asylum support)
- detention under immigration powers
- returns from the UK of those with no legal right to be in the UK
- statistics on Ukrainians in the UK
The ‘Immigration system statistics’ release is a National Statistics output produced to the highest professional standards and free from political interference. It has been produced by statisticians in Migration Statistics within the Home Office in accordance with the Home Office’s ‘Statement of compliance with the code of practice for statistics’. The Head of Profession for Statistics 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 system statistics’ series forms part of a larger cross-government Statistical Service ‘Migration statistics transformation plan’ to meet changing user needs, and which will put administrative data at the core of evidence on migration. Improvements to this release, which are part of this programme of work, can be found in ‘Developments in migration statistics’.
1. National Statistics
The UK Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics signifying compliance with the ‘Code of Practice for Statistics’.
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
2.1 Accessibility
We have further reviewed and updated our tables, in line with accessibility legislation, helping to ensure that they meet user needs.
2.2 The impact of coronavirus (COVID-19)
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic. A range of restrictions were implemented in many parts of the world, and the first UK ‘lockdown’ measures were announced on 23 March 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the UK immigration system, both in terms of restricting migrant movements to and from the UK and the impact on operational capacity.
An additional one-off report, Statistics relating to COVID-19 and the immigration system, May 2020, was published on 28 May 2020, providing a statistical overview of COVID-19 impacts on the immigration system through to the end of April 2020. Statistics relating to passenger arrivals since the COVID-19 outbreak were updated to include data up to 30 June 2022. There are no further planned publications related to passenger arrivals since the COVID-19 outbreak.
2.3 Afghan Resettlement
On 18 August 2021, the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was announced, with the aim of resettling up to 20,000 people at risk. The ACRS opened in January 2022. The first refugee was resettled under the scheme on 6 January 2022. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) launched on 1 April 2021. This release includes data on individuals relocated under the Afghan schemes; see the ‘How many people do we grant protection to?’ chapter for more details. The data is provisional and subject to change while work continues to ensure data related to all relocated individuals is recorded on case working systems.
Further details on the ACRS and ARAP can be found in the FACTSHEET: ACRS and other routes and Operation Warm Welcome: progress update.
2.4 Ukraine Visa Schemes
During March 2022, the UK Government introduced 2 new routes to allow persons affected by the crisis in Ukraine to come to the UK. Introduced on 4 March 2022, the Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme was introduced on 18 March 2022, and allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Additionally, from 3 May 2022, the Ukraine Extension Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members to apply for permission to stay in the UK. They must have held permission to be in the UK at any point between 1 January 2022 and 16 May 2023. The Ukraine Extension Scheme is open to new applications until 16 November 2023.
This report covers these schemes as they were at the end of December 2022. The latest data is published at Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: visa data. The finalised data presented in this release will differ from the more timely provisional operational data drawn from live systems, which are subject to change as data is refreshed.
2.5 Data tables
There are 2 types of data tables published as part of this release. Summary tables, which include a high-level overview of the main datasets published in each area, as well as some stand-alone datasets; detailed datasets which enable users to explore the data in more detail as required. The ‘contents’ page within the summary tables contains an overview of the available datasets (including hyperlinks), and a link to archived data, while the ‘notes’ page shows how the information in the old tables maps to the information in the new tables.
3. 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. The forum meets annually at its conference, usually held in autumn. Home Office Analysis and Insight uses this forum to communicate 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.
4. Other Home Office research and statistics
‘Developments in Migration Statistics’
In recent years Home Office statisticians have introduced a wide range of changes to the UK migration statistics. These include developments in the department’s national statistics suite of outputs, and a variety of other research and analysis using Home Office and other data sources.
‘EU Settlement Scheme Statistics’
Statistics relating to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
‘Statistics relating to passenger arrivals since the COVID-19 outbreak’
Statistical reports showing the impact of COVID-19 on the immigration system.
‘Irregular migration to the UK’
Statistics on irregular migration to the UK, including small boats.
‘Migrant journey’
Formerly known as ‘Statistics on changes in migrants’ visas and leave status’, this release explores migrants’ journeys through the UK’s immigration system.
‘Migration research and analysis’
Research and statistics on migration to support Home Office policy development and operational activity.
‘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.
‘Grenfell immigration policy statistics’
Following the Grenfell Tower fire on 14 June 2017, new immigration policies for survivors and relatives were introduced. This report provides official statistics on the survivors and relatives considered under these policies.
‘Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme Statistics’
Provides the latest statistics on the Ukraine Family Scheme and the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme. The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
5. Other migration outputs
‘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.
‘International migration’ (ONS).
Tool to locate the datasets for all ONS international migration outputs and for updates to international migration outputs.
‘Statistics at DWP’ (DWP).
Research and statistics on migration to support Home Office policy development and operational activity.
6. Further information and feedback
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.
Press enquiries should be made to:
Home Office Press Office
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Tel: 0300 123 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.