Sharp Decline in UK Net Migration as Indian Departures Soar
The United Kingdom has witnessed one of the most dramatic declines in net migration since its post-pandemic reopening, with official data revealing an 80% drop from 2023 peaks. According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures covering the year ending June 2025, net migration fell by 204,000, marking one of the steepest annual declines in recent history.
Indian Nationals Lead Departure Statistics
Indian students and workers accounted for the largest share of visa-holders leaving the United Kingdom during this period. The ONS data shows that approximately 45,000 Indians on study visas and 22,000 on work visas departed the country. When including 7,000 Indian nationals recorded under the 'other' visa category, the total Indian departures reached approximately 74,000 - the highest among all non-EU nationalities.
Chinese nationals recorded the second-highest exits at around 42,000. Despite this significant outflow, Indians continued to remain the top nationality arriving for both study and work purposes, receiving 90,000 study visa grants and 46,000 work visas in the same period.
Policy Changes Driving the Exodus
The ONS attributes this high level of emigration primarily to international students who originally entered the UK on study visas. The increase in long-term emigration of non-EU nationals who arrived on study-related visas is being primarily driven by large numbers of Indian and Chinese nationals leaving the country.
This substantial decline coincides with a series of tightening measures introduced by the UK government, particularly affecting international students and entry-level workers. The ongoing review of the Graduate Route - the post-study work visa that allows students to stay back after completing their degrees - has created significant uncertainty. Although no final legislation has been enforced, the UK government has indicated that the route may become more restrictive in both duration and eligibility beginning in 2025-26.
Business Concerns and Economic Impact
Business groups in London have expressed serious concerns about these sharper immigration controls. A recent report shows that 93% of London businesses believe international talent helps address skills shortages, while 84% think international students should have a pathway into post-study work. These concerns highlight a widening gap between the UK government's migration policy and the demands of sectors dependent on foreign-trained workers.
Employers warn that scaling back post-study work opportunities would harm the UK's talent pipeline, particularly in key sectors like technology, finance, and research. The Work Rights Centre has cautioned that the decline in skilled worker visas - now at a three-year low - is already affecting UK industries.
Mary Gregory, Executive Director for Population and Census at the ONS, confirmed that the reduction is largely due to fewer people from outside the EU arriving for work and study-related reasons. She noted that the UK is now witnessing the lowest migration level seen since 2021.
Meanwhile, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended the government's moves, arguing that migration must be better controlled to ease pressures on housing, services, and local communities. She stated that net migration has fallen by more than two-thirds under the current government while signalling deeper reforms ahead.
