Immigration policies of the United Kingdom are the areas of modern British policy concerned with the immigration system of the United Kingdom—primarily, who has the right to visit or stay in the UK. British immigration policy is under the purview of UK Visas and Immigration."Home page | UK Visas and Immigration ." Gov.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

With its withdrawal from the European Union, the UK implemented a broad reform to its immigration system, putting an end to free movement with the EU and introducing a points-based immigration system on 1 January 2021."The UK's points-based immigration system: policy statement ," Policy paper. Gov.uk. Government of the United Kingdom. 2020 February 19. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

In 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to reduce net migration to the UK (the number of people immigrating minus the number emigrating) below 250,000 per year. However, immigration to the UK rose following the introduction of the post-Brexit points-based immigration system on 1 January 2021.

Long-term net migration is estimated to have reached a record high of 944,000 in the year ending (YE) March 2023, with immigration at 1,469,000 and emigration at 525,000.

However, the Office for National statistics cautions against directly comparing figures from before and after July 2021, owning to a change in methodology for how net migration is calculated.

The Office for National Statistics' provisional estimate, released in November 2025 on migration in the year ending (YE) June 2025, stated that long-term net migration in the year ending (YE) June 2025 was 204,000: non-EU+ nationals at 383,000 net migration, British nationals at -109,000, and EU+ nationals at -70,000.

For the year ending (YE) June 2025, total immigration was 898,000: non-EU+ nationals accounted for 75% of total immigration (670,000), British nationals comprised 16% (143,000), and EU+ nationals constituted 9% (85,000).

For the year ending (YE) June 2025, total emigration was 693,000: non-EU+ nationals accounted for 41% of total emigration (286,000), British nationals composed 36% (252,000), and EU+ nationals accounted for 22% (155,000).

For the year ending (YE) June 2025, the top three nationalities from non-EU+ countries immigrating on work-related visas were Indian, Pakistani, and Nigerian.

Electronic documentation In the wake of Brexit, the British Government introduced a wide, multi-year programme of change, led by the Home Office, to transform the operation of the UK's border and immigration system. Following the first phase of this initiative which will take place in 2021, further improvements to the system in the longer term include the introduction of an Electronic Travel Authorisation system. The UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is planned as an electronic system that will be used to pre-check migrants travelling to the UK.

Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates in the Arabian peninsula can obtain an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) online to enter the United Kingdom, which is only valid for one entry each."UK electronic visa waiver introduced for Oman, Qatar and UAE ." Gov.uk. 2013 December 30. Retrieved 10 December 2020. An EVW authorisation enables its holder to visit and/or study in the UK for up to 6 months without a visa, and must be obtained each time an eligible person wishes to enter/re-enter the UK for such purpose. An EVW is only valid for one entry, and a new EVW must be obtained each time an eligible person wishes to enter the UK to visit and/or study for up to 6 months without a visa. The EVW is also valid for visits to Ireland for up to 90 days once a holder has cleared immigration in the United Kingdom.

Points-based system and sponsorship Since 2002, a points based scheme was introduced, and it has been revised several times. Exiting the European Union on 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom moved to end free movement and introduce an Immigration Bill with a different points-based system. This meant a single immigration policy applied to anyone who wishes to live and work in the UK. This would be the first phase of a wider multi-year programme of change, led by the Home Office, to transform the operation of the British border and immigration system—including sponsorship.

Under the new system, people require 70 points to enable them to work in the UK. These are made up of 50 Mandatory Points and 20 Tradeable Points, to work in the UK.

+Current requirementsRequirementTradable with other requirementsPointsOffer of employment by an approved sponsorNo20Employment at the appropriate skill levelNo20Speaks English at a sufficient levelNo10Salary between £20,480 and £23,039Yes0Salary between £23,040 and £25,599Yes10Salary that is £25,600 or aboveYes20Employment in an occupation that has a shortage as designated by the Migration Advisory CommitteeYes20Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the employmentYes10Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the employmentYes20

Sponsorship In order to be eligible to apply under certain categories of the points-based system, the applicant must have a sponsor which is on the UKBA register of sponsors. The register of sponsors lists all organisations that the UK Border Agency has licensed to employ migrant workers or sponsor migrant students. On 31 March 2009, the register of sponsors replaced the register of education and training providers published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (and previously by the Department for Education and Skills). During 2018, many NHS trusts found that applications for certificates of sponsorship for doctors and nurses were refused, leaving them to rely on locum staff.

Licences can only be applied for if: The potential sponsor is a legitimate organisation working within the law in the UK; There are no reasons to believe that the potential sponsor is a threat to immigration control; and the organisation will meet its sponsorship duties.

These criteria are to ensure that those working or studying in the UK do so legally. If the potential sponsor is awarded a sponsor licence, they will be given a sponsor rating - this will be an 'A rating' or a 'B rating', and will be listed on the register. Instead of an A or B rating, Tier 4 (General) sponsors could apply for a Highly Trusted sponsor licence.

For employers sponsoring skilled migrants under the new 2021 system, the visa process would be streamlined to reduce the time it takes to bring a migrant into the UK by up to 8 weeks. The Government intends to further reduce this through additional enhancements to the system.

Visas

+British Visas, as of April 2015VisaDetailsVisitor VisasStandard Visitor visa: As of April 2015, the Standard Visitor visa replaced the Family Visitor visa, General Visitor visa, Child Visitor visa, Business Visitor visa(including visas for academics, doctors, and dentists), Sports Visitor visa, Entertainer Visitor visa, Prospective Entrepreneur visa, Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa, and the Approved Destination Status (ADS) visa. Marriage Visitor visa Permitted Paid Engagement visa Parent of a Tier 4 child visa Visa to pass through the UK in transit Direct Airside Transit visa Visitor in Transit visaWork VisasTier 1 visa Entrepreneur (minimum £200,000 investment or £50,000 if qualified) Exceptional Talent (recognised leader in fields of science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology or the arts) General (highly skilled workers, writers, composers or artists and self-employed lawyers) Graduate Entrepreneur Investor (minimum £2,000,000 investment) Tier 2 visa (sponsored workers) General Intra-company Transfer (foreign company workers in a British branch) Minister of Religion Sportsperson Tier 5 visa (temporary work for sponsored workers) Charity Worker (unpaid voluntary work) Creative and sporting Government Authorised Exchange International Agreement Religious Worker Youth Mobility Scheme Domestic Workers in a Private Household visa (cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks, personal care providers and nannies) Representative of an Overseas Business visa (head of a British branch or a foreign journalist on a long-term posting) Turkish Businessperson visa Turkish Worker visa UK Ancestry visa (Commonwealth citizens with British born parents or grandparents) Croatian national registration certificatesStudent VisasShort-term study visa Tier 4 visa General Child

Workers Visas The scheme was phased in between 2008 and 2010. It is composed of five "tiers" which replaced all the previous work permits and entry schemes, including Scotland's Fresh Talent Initiative. The system was administered by the UK Border Agency the predecessor of UK Visas and Immigration.

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) This category is intended for entrepreneurs who want to set up or take over an existing business (or businesses) in the UK. This route requires entrepreneurs to be actively involved in running of their businesses either as company directors or as self-employed. Entrepreneurs are allowed to be employed and work only in the businesses they are involved with.

Successful applicants are granted with three years of initial leave to remain and those applying must have access to at least £200,000. Under certain circumstances, the applicants can apply if they have access to only £50,000. The funds can be shared by up to two people where they can apply as an entrepreneurial team. The initial leave will be further extended by two years if the applicants demonstrate that they have invested the funds in their business (or businesses) and created at least two full-time positions that existed for at least 12 months during the three-year initial period.

To prevent abuse of the route, all the applicants are subject to a Genuine Entrepreneur Test in which they must demonstrate the credibility and genuineness of their business (or businesses). In some cases, the applicants could be interviewed or asked to submit extra evidence.

After 5 years of leave on Tier 1 Entrepreneur, the applicants could potentially apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. The route allows the most successful entrepreneurs to apply for settlement within the first three-year under the Accelerated Route if they demonstrate that their business generated a turnover of at least £5m or created 10 full-time jobs for 10 people lasting 12 months or more.

International students are no longer able to apply for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route within the UK. Instead a separate route under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) exists in which international graduates who have been officially endorsed by either the Department for International Trade (DIT) or a British higher education institution (HEI) can apply to remain in the UK to pursue their business ventures.

On 7 March 2019, the government published immigration rule changes to close the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) routes to initial applications on 6 April 2019 and 6 July 2019 respectively. These two routes will be replaced by two new visa categories namely 'Start-up' and 'Innovator' visas.EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO

THE STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT ON 7 March 2019 (HC 1919) Gov.UK 7 March 2019

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/784060/CCS207_CCS0319710302-002_HC_1919_Immigration_Rules__EXPLANATORY_MEMO__PRINT_.pdf

Tier 1 (Investor)