Migration Observatory

. @ONS significantly downgrades UK population growth forecast on the back of falling net migration - with net migration central estimate reduced from 340k per year to 230k (means population of the UK would hit 71m by 2034, rather than 72.2m, as projected in 2022)

The cost of visa applications increased this month, so we’ve updated our tool which calculates how much migrants pay in immigration fees from entry to citizenship. Take a look at Figure 1 👇 migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/comm…

How much do migrants on Skilled Worker visas get paid? New FOI data show big differences by skill level and whether the job was in healthcare or other industries. For context, median earnings for full-time employees were £39,000 over the same period.

Perhaps surprisingly, a similar investigation from the Daily Mail did not lead to a prosecution. legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/th…

A BBC investigation has discovered a 'shadow industry' of advisers and law firms that is seemingly helping migrants fabricate asylum claims by pretending to be gay. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Home Office monthly stats are out today. The data show that applications for Health & Care and Skilled Worker visas continue to fall. Meanwhile, the share of dependants is rising in both routes, even after restrictions on dependants of care workers. What’s driving this trend is not entirely clear - any thoughts? 💡

...listen to the full episode here migrationpolicy.org/about/world-mi…

You can get the book here bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-… and...

Our Director @M_Sumption talks to the Migration Policy Institute about her new book on immigration policy and why it is so difficult for governments to manage @MigrationPolicy

I can't recommend this book enough. Madeleine knows more about what actually happens when immigration policies meet reality than almost anyone alive. This book is the essential guide I wish everyone would read before entering the immigration debate. Order it now!

7,500 small boat arrivals had been removed from the UK by the end of '25 - 4% of all arrivals since '18. Small boats accounted for 41% of all asylum apps last year, and arrivals remained more likely to get protection with a 61% grant rate. More below: migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/brie…

What is immigration policy for? Register now: Institute for Government event with former Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Madeleine Sumption in conversation about her new book and why immigration policy is so difficult 26th April 6pm instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/book-lau…

Will the conflict in Iran affect UK asylum flows? So far, it's too early to tell, but Iranians were the largest group seeking asylum in the UK in the past 10 years, and first among small boat arrivals. migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/comm…

80k asylum appeals were pending at the end of 2025, double from a year before. Initial decision backlog has fallen but a growing appeals backlog means the number of asylum seekers receiving support - and in hotels - remains high. Our updated tracker of Labour's goals:

How will the higher language requirement affect migrants? In short, we don’t know because there's no data on how many migrants can speak English at the B1 or B2 level. In 2021, however, 90% of migrants living in England or Wales self-reported speaking English without difficulty

The government has announced that migrants will have to pass an English language test at the B2 level to obtain settlement, up from the current B1 level. This change will come into force in March 2027.