Migration Watch – Migration Watch UK https://www.migrationwatchuk.org Independent UK-based think tank focused on immigration and asylum policy research Fri, 22 May 2026 08:02:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/mw-logo-2022.png Migration Watch – Migration Watch UK https://www.migrationwatchuk.org 32 32 The public have spoken. They agree migration is out of control. https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/the-public-have-spoken-they-agree-migration-is-out-of-control/ Fri, 22 May 2026 09:30:00 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6114

For 25 years, Migration Watch UK has made the case that net migration to this country has reached levels the public never asked for and the country cannot sustain. We have published the research, engaged the politicians, and put the evidence in front of anyone willing to look. And for much of that time, the response from the political class has been to ignore it, dismiss it, or reach for the nearest euphemism.

JL Partners, an independent polling firm, surveyed 1,520 adults on 17 November 2025. The sample was nationally representative by age, gender, region, education, ethnicity, and past vote. We asked them about net migration levels, the impact of migration on eight areas of public life, and their views on the long-term demographic trajectory of the United Kingdom. What came back was one of the clearest statements of public opinion on this issue we have ever seen.

On net migration, respondents were not asked their opinion in the abstract, but told the official ONS figure: 2,925,000 people arrived in net terms between 2019 and 2024. They were then asked whether that level was too high, about right, or too low. 61 per cent% said too high. 38 per cent%, the single largest response category, chose far too high. 8 per cent% said too low. This is not a razor-thin majority on a charged question. It is a settled, clear, cross-demographic view. Majorities in every region of Great Britain. 57 per cent% of Labour voters. Graduates and non-graduates alike, differing only in intensity. There is no corner of this country where a majority of people think the last five years of migration were broadly fine.

We also asked respondents to rate migration’s impact on eight policy areas: housing availability, housing affordability, the NHS, the school system, crime and personal safety, national culture, public transport, and the high street. Not one produced a net positive verdict. The strongest negative results were on housing availability, where 57 per cent% said migration had reduced availability of homes, and crime and personal safety, where 53 per cent% said the impact had been negative. The NHS produced the poll’s most polarised result: 22 per cent% saw the contribution of migrant workers and rated the impact positively, but 50 per cent% judged the overall impact negative. People are weighing demand as well as supply. More residents means longer waiting lists, fuller GP surgeries, and A&E departments under strain. The public understands this even when the politicians prefer not to say it.

The crossbreaks tell a consistent story. Older respondents are more negative than younger ones across every single question. London is the outlier, more divided and less strongly negative than the rest of the country: but , though even there, majorities judged housing availability and crime negatively. Outside London, every English region, Wales, and Scotland returned net negative assessments across the board. The picture is of a country whose concerns are deep, widespread, and not confined to any one group or place.

The finding that deserves the most careful attention concerns demographic change. Respondents were told that people identifying as White British, White English, White Welsh, or White Scottish are projected to fall below 50 per cent% of the UK population by the early 2060s. They were asked how they viewed that prospect. 49 per cent% said negatively. 33 per cent% chose very negative. That figure, one in three adults, is the highest intensity response recorded anywhere in the entire poll. It exceeds the equivalent figure for housing availability at 25 per cent% and crime at 24 per cent%. The public does not hold this view mildly. Those who hold it, hold it with a strength of feeling that outstrips almost every other concern in the survey.

What this polling tells us is that on every dimension we tested, the British public agrees with the position Migration Watch UK has held and argued for a quarter of a century. Net migration has been too high. It is overwhelming damaging housing, public services, and the fabric of communities across the country. And a very large share of the country is deeply troubled by the demographic direction of travel.

We will not stop making that case. We will take these findings to politicians, to the media, and to anyone with the power to act. But none of this is possible without your support. If you believe this work matters, please consider making a donation. Every contribution allows us to keep the research going, keep the pressure on, and keep fighting for a migration policy that the British public actually wants.

Download the report

Read the full report: ‘Public Attitudes Toward Migration: A National Polling Analysis’

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Public Attitudes to Migration https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/public-attitudes-to-migration/ Fri, 22 May 2026 08:02:03 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6145

In November 2025, Migration Watch UK commissioned JL Partners to conduct a nationally representative poll of 1,520 UK adults on public attitudes toward net migration levels, the perceived impact of migration across eight policy areas, and views on long-term demographic change. The results show settled, cross-party, public majority concern about the scale of recent migration and, in one finding, the most intensely held view recorded anywhere in the poll.

Key findings

  • 61 per cent said net migration was too high, including 38 per cent who chose “far too high”, the single largest response category. Eight per cent said the level was too low. The breadth of this view extends well beyond the groups most typically associated with concern about migration levels.
  • Majorities of Labour voters, graduates, and respondents across every region of the United Kingdom judged recent levels too high. No demographic group produced a majority saying levels were too low. 
  • Across all eight policy areas tested, negative assessments outweighed positive ones. There was no area of public life in which the public believed migration had, on balance, been beneficial.
  • Housing was the area of sharpest concern: 57 per cent said migration had reduced the availability of homes (net score minus 42 percentage points) and 49 per cent said it had made housing less affordable (net minus 34). Even on the NHS, where public awareness of migrants’ contribution as health service staff is highest, 50 per cent still rated migration’s net impact as negative against 22 per cent who rated it positively.
  • 49 per cent of respondents viewed the projection that the White British population will fall below 50 per cent of the UK total by the 2060s negatively, with 33 per cent selecting “very negative”. That figure is the highest single response intensity recorded anywhere in the poll, exceeding concern about housing availability (25 per cent) and crime (24 per cent).
Download the report

Read the full report: ‘Public Attitudes Toward Migration: A National Polling Analysis’

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Policy & legal framework https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/policy-legal-framework/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:54:55 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6087
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

The laws, rules, and policies that govern the UK immigration system, from primary legislation to operational guidance.

Immigration Rules

The detailed legal framework, laid before Parliament by the Home Secretary, governing who may enter and remain in the UK and under what conditions. Originally 20 pages long when introduced in the 1970s, they now exceed 1,000 pages. They are not primary legislation but have legal force and are the basis for all visa and asylum decisions.

Points-Based Immigration System

The framework introduced after Brexit under which immigration for work and study is managed through a points-scoring mechanism. Applicants must score at least 70 points based on job offer, skill level, salary, and English language ability. It replaced the earlier tiered system and applies equally to EU and non-EU nationals since January 2021.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)

A charge paid upfront by most non-UK visa applicants, giving them access to NHS treatment on the same basis as UK residents during their stay. Currently set at £1,035 per person per year of the visa. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt. The charge has increased significantly in recent years and is a significant cost for families.

Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)

A levy paid by UK employers for each year they sponsor an overseas worker on the Skilled Worker or similar routes. From December 2025, the charge is £1,320 per year for medium and large sponsors and £480 for small and charitable organisations. It was introduced to encourage employers to invest in domestic training. It does not apply to unsponsored routes.

Family reunion

The right of recognised refugees and others with protection status to be joined in the UK by close family members — typically a spouse and minor children — from abroad. It is distinct from the family visa route, which requires meeting income thresholds. Refugee family reunion is free of charge and does not require the sponsor to demonstrate financial means.

Family formation

A statistical category used in settlement data covering people granted the right to settle in the UK on the basis of a family relationship — including spouses, children, parents, and grandparents — with someone already settled or a British citizen. It reflects both reunion with pre-existing families and the formation of new family units.

Earned settlement

A proposed policy framework, consulted on in late 2025, under which the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain would vary based on an individual’s contributions to the UK — through employment, earnings, or volunteering. It would replace the current fixed five-year qualifying period for most routes with a longer baseline of ten years, with reductions available. It is not yet law.

Safe return review

A Home Office assessment, conducted at the point of settlement application on the protection route, examining whether a refugee’s circumstances or country conditions have changed such that their status should be revoked. Codified in the Immigration Rules from April 2026, this process was previously conducted as a matter of practice without formal regulatory basis.

Nationality and Borders Act 2022

Legislation passed under the Conservative government that introduced significant changes to the asylum system, including the creation of a two-tier refugee status system and expanded powers to declare claims inadmissible. Several of its most controversial provisions — including the Rwanda removal scheme — were later repealed or fell away under subsequent legislation.

Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act

Legislation passed under the current Labour government that repealed key elements of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 and the Illegal Migration Act 2023. It established the Border Security Command in statute, created new counter-terrorism-style powers to disrupt smuggling networks, and made further changes to the asylum support system.

European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

An international treaty, enforced by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, protecting fundamental rights including the right to life, freedom from torture, and the right to family life. Articles 3 and 8 are frequently invoked in immigration cases to resist removal. The UK remains a signatory to the ECHR regardless of Brexit.

1951 Refugee Convention / Geneva Convention

The foundational international treaty defining who is a refugee and establishing the principle of non-refoulement — the prohibition on returning a person to a country where they face persecution. The UK is a signatory. The Convention’s definition of a refugee, supplemented by the 1967 Protocol, underpins the UK’s asylum system.

1967 Protocol

A supplement to the 1951 Refugee Convention that removed its original geographic and time restrictions, extending refugee protections to people displaced anywhere in the world, not just Europe, and from events after 1951. Together, the Convention and the Protocol form the basis of international refugee law and the UK’s obligations to asylum seekers.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Institutions & bodies https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/institutions-bodies/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:51:59 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6076
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

The government departments, agencies, courts, and advisory bodies responsible for managing and scrutinising immigration in the UK.

Home Office

The UK government department responsible for immigration, border security, policing, and counter-terrorism. Within immigration, it includes UK Visas and Immigration, Immigration Enforcement, and Border Force. The Home Secretary leads the department. It is the decision-making authority for all visa applications, asylum claims, and enforcement action.

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)

The operational division of the Home Office responsible for processing visa and immigration applications, granting or refusing leave to enter and remain, and managing the sponsorship system. UKVI has wide caseworker discretion in assessing applications, including credibility assessments and compliance monitoring.

Border Force

The law enforcement command within the Home Office responsible for securing the UK’s borders at ports and airports. It checks all passengers and freight entering the country, enforces immigration and customs laws, and intercepts small boats in the Channel. Around 10,000 people work for Border Force across its regional operations.

Immigration Enforcement

The Home Office team responsible for enforcing immigration law within the UK — targeting illegal working, removing people with no right to remain, and managing immigration detention. It is distinct from Border Force, which operates at the border, and from UKVI, which processes applications.

Office for National Statistics (ONS)

The UK’s national statistics body, responsible for producing official data on migration, population, and the economy. The ONS publishes long-term international migration estimates and works with the Home Office to develop improved methods. Its migration statistics are currently classified as official statistics in development due to ongoing methodological change.

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)

An independent, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration policy. It conducts research and makes recommendations on issues including salary thresholds, shortage occupation lists, and the impact of migration on the UK labour market. Its recommendations inform Home Office policy but are not binding.

First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)

The independent court that hears appeals against Home Office immigration and asylum decisions at first instance. Applicants whose claims or visa applications have been refused may appeal here. Around half of asylum appeals that reach the tribunal result in the Home Office’s original decision being overturned.

Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber)

The higher court that hears appeals against decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal. It also handles judicial review of certain immigration decisions. Its judgments establish binding legal precedent on immigration law. Further appeals beyond the Upper Tribunal go to the Court of Appeal.

Border Security Command

A unit established in 2024 to coordinate the UK’s response to organised immigration crime, reporting directly to the Home Secretary. It directs the National Crime Agency, police, and intelligence agencies to dismantle people smuggling networks. It was backed by £75 million and given counter-terrorism-style powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.

Common Travel Area (CTA)

An arrangement between the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man allowing British and Irish citizens to travel freely between these territories without passport controls. The CTA predates both EU membership and Brexit and continues to operate independently of EU free movement. It does not extend full free movement rights to third-country nationals.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Statistics & measurement https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/statistics-measurement/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:43:27 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6068
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

The data sources, definitions, and methods used to count and track migration flows and the migrant population.

Net migration

The difference between the number of people arriving in the UK to live (immigration) and the number leaving (emigration), over a given period. It is the headline figure in UK migration debate. Net migration was estimated at 204,000 in the year ending June 2025 — sharply lower than the record 944,000 in early 2023, driven by falls in non-EU work and study migration.

Immigration

The arrival of people in the UK to live, typically for at least 12 months. In the year ending June 2025, total long-term immigration was estimated at 898,000. Immigration is distinct from short-term arrivals such as visitors. It is measured by the ONS using a combination of border data, visa records, and administrative sources.

Emigration

The departure of people from the UK to live elsewhere, typically for at least 12 months. In the year ending June 2025, emigration was estimated at 693,000. It includes both British nationals and foreign nationals. The majority of those emigrating had originally arrived on study-related visas.

Long-Term International Migration (LTIM)

The ONS statistical series estimating the flow of long-term migrants to and from the UK. It uses the UN definition of a long-term migrant — someone who changes their country of usual residence for 12 months or more. The methodology has been substantially revised since 2021 to make greater use of administrative data, and estimates are currently classified as official statistics in development.

Migration stocks

A measure of the total number of migrants living in a country at a given point in time, as opposed to flows (arrivals and departures). In the UK, stocks are typically measured by country of birth or nationality. As of mid-2023, approximately 11.4 million people living in England and Wales were born abroad, representing around 19% of the population.

Migration flows

The number of people moving to or from a country over a given period. Flows are distinct from stocks. The UK’s net migration figure is derived from flows. Measuring flows accurately is challenging because it requires tracking both arrivals and departures, and intentions do not always match behaviour.

International Passenger Survey (IPS)

A long-running ONS survey of passengers entering and leaving the UK at ports and airports. It was the primary source of UK net migration data before the COVID-19 pandemic. The IPS recorded intentions, not outcomes, and missed significant migration flows — particularly EU nationals at regional airports. It was scaled back and is now used mainly for British national estimates and reasons for migration.

Registration and Population Interaction Database (RAPID)

A Department for Work and Pensions database combining tax and benefit records for anyone holding a National Insurance number. The ONS now uses RAPID as a core data source for estimating EU and British national migration. It measures “activity” in the UK system but cannot capture people — such as children and non-working family members — who do not interact with tax or benefit records.

Migration Watch System (MWS)

A linked Home Office database combining visa, border entry and exit, and immigration status records to build travel histories for non-EEA nationals. Used by the ONS to estimate long-term immigration and emigration of non-EU migrants. It enables the tracking of individuals’ entries and exits alongside their visa and status information.

Admin-based migration estimates (ABMEs)

The ONS’s emerging methodology for producing migration statistics using administrative data — such as tax records, benefit data, and border crossings — rather than survey data. ABMEs are currently classified as official statistics in development, meaning they are published but subject to ongoing revision as methods are refined.

National Insurance number (NINo) allocations

The number of National Insurance numbers issued to non-UK nationals registering for work in the UK. NINo data was historically used as a proxy for labour migration flows. It is now less prominent as a standalone measure, having been largely superseded by visa data and administrative estimates in the official migration statistics framework.

Country of birth

One of the two main ways of defining the migrant population in official statistics — counting people whose place of birth differs from their country of residence. Unlike nationality, it is a fixed characteristic. The Census records country of birth, and it underpins estimates of the foreign-born population, which stood at approximately 11.4 million in England and Wales as of mid-2023.

Nationality

The second main way of defining the migrant population in statistics — counting people who hold the citizenship of a different country from the one in which they live. Unlike country of birth, nationality can change through naturalisation. The ONS uses both country of birth and nationality to describe the non-UK population in different contexts.

Non-UK born population

People living in the UK who were born in another country, regardless of their current nationality. This is the standard statistical measure of the resident migrant population. It includes people who have since become British citizens. As of mid-2023, the non-UK born population of England and Wales was approximately 11.4 million.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Irregular migration https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/irregular-migration/ Mon, 18 May 2026 12:25:21 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6057
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

Migration that takes place outside legal channels, including Channel crossings, clandestine entry, overstaying, and people smuggling.

Irregular migration / unauthorised migration

Migration that takes place outside official, legal channels. In the UK context, it includes clandestine entry, Channel crossings in small boats, visa overstaying, and remaining after failed asylum claims. The true scale is unknown. The Home Office uses “irregular” and “unauthorised” interchangeably; the term “illegal” is also widely used in political and media contexts.

Small boat / Channel crossings

The crossing of the English Channel in small vessels — typically inflatable dinghies or rigid-hulled inflatables — by people seeking to reach the UK without authorisation. Numbers rose sharply from 2018, reaching a peak of around 46,000 in 2022. Around 94% of those who arrive this way subsequently claim asylum. The issue has dominated UK immigration policy debate throughout the 2020s.

Clandestine entry

Entry to the UK by concealment, typically by hiding in lorries, shipping containers, or ferries without detection. Before the rise of small boat crossings, this was the most common form of irregular entry. Detection has become harder as smuggling networks have professionalised, though significant enforcement resources are deployed at UK and French ports.

People smuggling

The facilitation of illegal border crossing for financial gain. Smugglers charge migrants fees to organise travel and entry into the UK. It is a crime against the state, not the migrant. The relationship between smuggler and migrant typically ends on arrival. Organised crime groups — including Kurdish, West Balkan, and Sudanese networks — are heavily involved in Channel crossings.

Human trafficking

The recruitment, transportation, or harbouring of people through coercion, deception, or force for the purpose of exploitation — including forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, or organ removal. Unlike people smuggling, trafficking is a crime against the individual victim. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and does not require a border crossing.

Visa overstay

Remaining in the UK beyond the expiry of a visa or leave to remain. Overstaying is a criminal offence. It is one of the most common routes into irregular status and is difficult to quantify, as the UK lacks a reliable system for matching departures to entry records. The government does not publish estimates of the total overstayer population.

Border Security Command

A unit established in 2024 to coordinate the UK’s response to organised immigration crime, reporting directly to the Home Secretary. It directs the National Crime Agency, police, and intelligence agencies to dismantle people smuggling networks. It was backed by £75 million and given counter-terrorism-style powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.

One-in-one-out returns scheme

A bilateral pilot arrangement between the UK and France, in force from August 2025, under which the UK returns a number of small boat arrivals to France in exchange for accepting an equivalent number of asylum seekers via an official route. Around 300 people were returned under the scheme in its first months. It is intended to undermine the smuggling business model, though critics question its scale and deterrent effect.

Detected arrivals

People identified by the Home Office as arriving in the UK without authorisation, either at the border or within 72 hours of entry. Small boat arrivals are the most visible category because most present themselves to authorities on landing. Clandestine entries via lorries or ferries are less reliably detected and therefore underrepresented in official statistics.

Border Force

The law enforcement command within the Home Office responsible for securing the UK’s borders at ports and airports. It checks all passengers and freight entering the country, enforces immigration and customs laws, and intercepts small boats in the Channel. Around 10,000 people work for Border Force across its regional operations.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Enforcement, returns & removals https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/enforcement-returns-removals/ Mon, 18 May 2026 08:34:57 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=6011
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

The powers and processes used to enforce immigration law and remove people with no right to remain.

Enforced removal

The compulsory return of a person to their country of origin or a safe third country by the Home Office, against their will. It typically follows a refused asylum claim, visa overstay, or criminal conviction. Enforced removals are operationally distinct from deportation, which has a specific legal meaning in UK law.

Administrative removal

The process by which the Home Office removes a person who has no legal right to be in the UK, where deportation provisions do not apply. This is the most common form of removal and applies to overstayers, failed asylum seekers, and clandestine entrants. It is frequently — and incorrectly — referred to as “deportation” in public and media discourse.

Deportation

A specific legal process under which a person is removed from the UK because their presence is not considered conducive to the public good, typically following a criminal conviction. Deportation carries additional consequences, including a prohibition on re-entry. It is distinct from administrative removal and applies to a smaller, defined group.

Voluntary return / departure

When a person who has no legal right to remain in the UK leaves of their own accord. Voluntary return may be facilitated or monitored by the Home Office. It is recorded in returns statistics. Voluntary return is generally preferable for both the individual and the state, avoiding the cost and coercion of enforced removal.

Assisted Voluntary Return

A government-funded scheme that helps people with no right to remain in the UK to return to their country of origin. It may include a financial payment, travel arrangements, and support in the destination country. Critics argue the payments — including cash grants — can be a poor use of public money given the scale of the irregular population.

Notified voluntary departure

Where a person against whom enforcement action has been initiated voluntarily agrees to leave the UK and notifies the Home Office of their intention to depart. It is recorded separately from other voluntary returns and contributes to the overall returns statistics published by the Home Office.

Removal direction

A formal instruction issued by the Home Office specifying how and when a person is to be removed from the UK. They detail the date, carrier, and destination of removal. A person must generally be in detention or on bail for removal directions to be set. They may be challenged through legal proceedings, which can delay removal.

Immigration detention

The administrative holding of a person in a secure facility — an Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) — pending removal from the UK or a decision on their immigration status. Unlike criminal detention, it requires no conviction and has no statutory time limit. The UK is unusual internationally in not imposing a cap on the length of immigration detention.

Immigration bail

An alternative to detention allowing a person liable for removal to remain in the community under specified conditions, such as reporting to a Home Office centre and residing at a fixed address. Bail can be granted by the Home Office or the First-tier Tribunal. Breach of bail conditions can result in re-detention.

Curtailment

The Home Office’s power to cancel or shorten a person’s leave to remain before it is due to expire. It may occur where a person has breached visa conditions, provided false information, or where a sponsor withdraws support. Once leave is curtailed, the person becomes liable for removal if they do not depart or switch to another route.

Returns

The overall term used in Home Office statistics to describe the departure of people with no legal right to be in the UK. It encompasses enforced removals, deportations, assisted voluntary returns, and other voluntary departures. Around 38,000 people were returned from the UK in 2025, with India, Brazil, Albania, Romania, and Nigeria accounting for the majority.

Foreign national offender removal

The removal or deportation of non-British criminals following the completion of a prison sentence. It is tracked separately in Home Office statistics. The current government has prioritised this category, citing a 32% increase in deportations of foreign national offenders since taking office in 2024.

Hostile environment policy

A set of measures introduced from 2012, designed to make remaining in the UK without legal status as difficult as possible. Under the policy, employers, landlords, banks, the NHS, and other bodies are required to check immigration status before providing services or employment. It is now referred to by the government as the “compliant environment” policy. Its most controversial legacy is the Windrush scandal.

Right to work checks

A legal obligation on employers to verify that prospective employees have permission to work in the UK before hiring them. Failure to carry out correct checks can result in a civil penalty of up to £60,000 per illegal worker. The checks form part of the hostile environment framework and place immigration enforcement responsibilities on private employers.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)

A condition attached to most forms of limited leave to remain, prohibiting the holder from accessing most welfare benefits, tax credits, and local authority housing assistance. It applies to the majority of migrants on temporary visas and is a significant source of hardship, particularly for those in low-paid work or experiencing domestic abuse.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Asylum system https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/asylum-system/ Mon, 18 May 2026 08:11:58 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=5972
Return to the Migration Glossary

The process by which people fleeing persecution claim protection in the UK, from initial application through decision and appeal.

Table of Contents

Asylum claim / application

A formal request made to the Home Office by a person seeking protection in the UK on the grounds that they face persecution or serious harm in their country of origin. Claims must be made as soon as reasonably practicable after arrival. The Home Office is responsible for assessing each claim against the criteria in the 1951 Refugee Convention and related law.

Substantive interview

A detailed interview conducted by a Home Office caseworker as part of the asylum decision-making process. The applicant is asked to explain their claim, the reasons they fear return, and the evidence supporting their case. Failure to attend without good reason can result in the claim being treated as withdrawn.

Initial decision

The Home Office’s first decision on an asylum claim — either to grant or refuse protection. A significant proportion of initial refusals are subsequently overturned on appeal, reflecting ongoing concerns about the quality of Home Office decision-making. The initial decision triggers any right of appeal or review available to the applicant.

Inadmissability

A process by which the Home Office may decline to consider an asylum claim on its merits because the applicant could be returned to a safe third country instead. If a person is declared inadmissible, their claim is not assessed in the UK. They may be removed to a country deemed safe, though practical and legal challenges frequently arise.

Clearly unfounded claim

A designation applied by the Home Office to asylum claims it considers have no reasonable prospect of success. If a claim is certified as clearly unfounded, the applicant loses the right to appeal in-country and can only appeal from outside the UK. This is known as the non-suspensive appeals process.

Non-suspensive appeal

An appeal process in which the applicant has no right to remain in the UK while their appeal is pending. This applies where the Home Office has certified the claim as clearly unfounded, or where the applicant is a national of a designated safe country. The applicant must leave the UK and appeal from abroad.

Administrative review

A formal process allowing an applicant to challenge a Home Office decision they believe was made in error, without going to tribunal. It can only consider case working errors — not new evidence. It is available for certain visa refusals and some immigration decisions, and is typically the first step before any appeal.

Age-disputed application

An asylum application where the Home Office disputes the applicant’s claim to be a minor. If an applicant appears to be over 18, the Home Office may treat them as an adult pending further evidence. Age assessment matters significantly because unaccompanied children are entitled to enhanced local authority support and protections.

Section 95 support

Financial and/or accommodation support provided under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to destitute asylum seekers while their claim is pending. It is distinct from mainstream benefits, which asylum seekers cannot access. Support ends when the claim is finally determined, triggering a short “move on” period.

Section 98 support

Temporary emergency support provided under Section 98 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 while a Section 95 application is being assessed. It is short-term accommodation intended to prevent destitution pending a decision on longer-term asylum support. It is not available to everyone and carries stricter qualifying conditions.

Section 4 support

Support under Section 4(2) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 available to people whose asylum claims have been refused and whose appeal rights are exhausted, but who are temporarily unable to leave the UK. It is more restrictive than Section 95 support and is typically provided on a no-cash basis via a payment card.

Asylum backlog

The number of asylum claims awaiting an initial decision by the Home Office. The backlog grew substantially in the early 2020s, exceeding 100,000 at its peak, causing long delays, increased cost of support, and prolonged uncertainty for applicants. Reducing the backlog has been a stated policy priority of successive governments.

Further submissions

New evidence or arguments submitted by a failed asylum seeker after their original claim and all appeals have been exhausted. If the further submissions raise a fresh claim — one that is significantly different and has a realistic prospect of success — the Home Office must consider it. They are a significant route back into the asylum process.

Safe return review

A Home Office assessment, conducted at the point of settlement application on the protection route, examining whether a refugee’s circumstances or country conditions have changed such that their status should be revoked. Codified in the Immigration Rules from April 2026, this process was previously conducted as a matter of practice without formal regulatory basis.

Safe third country

A country other than the applicant’s nationality to which they could be returned because it is considered safe and will not refoule them to persecution. Most safe third country cases involve the Dublin arrangements or bilateral agreements. Returning an applicant to a safe third country means their asylum claim need not be assessed by the UK on its merits.

Dublin Regulation (historical)

The EU legal framework, which the UK participated in until 31 December 2020, governing which EU member state was responsible for processing an asylum claim. Under Dublin, claimants could generally be returned to the first EU country they entered. Brexit removed the UK from this system, significantly affecting returns of asylum seekers to Europe.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Immigration status & leave https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/immigration-status-leave/ Mon, 18 May 2026 07:54:51 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=5922

The legal permissions that determine whether someone may enter, stay in, or settle permanently in the UK.

Table of Contents

Leave to enter

Permission granted by an immigration officer at the UK border for a person to enter the country. It specifies the conditions of the person’s stay, including duration and whether they may work or study. A visa obtained in advance is typically converted into leave to enter on arrival.

Leave to remain

Permission to stay in the UK after entry, either on a temporary basis (limited leave to remain) or permanently (indefinite leave to remain). Most visa holders have leave to remain for a fixed period. Breaching its conditions — for example by working when not permitted — can lead to curtailment or removal.

Limited leave to remain

A form of permission to stay in the UK for a defined period, attached to specific conditions such as restrictions on work or access to public funds. Most visa categories grant limited leave. Holders must apply to extend or switch to another route before their leave expires or they become unlawfully present.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) / Settlement

Permanent permission to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. ILR holders can access public funds and apply for British citizenship after 12 months. For most Points-Based System routes, the qualifying period is currently five years, though proposals exist to extend this to ten years for many categories.

Humanitarian protection

A form of leave granted to people who do not qualify as refugees but would face a real risk of serious harm — such as unlawful killing or torture — if returned to their country. It carries similar rights to refugee status. From March 2026, it is also granted for 30 months for new adult claimants rather than the previous five years.

Discretionary leave

A limited form of leave granted in exceptional circumstances where someone does not qualify for refugee status or humanitarian protection but cannot be returned. It is granted for up to 30 months at a time. Cases may include unaccompanied children, certain trafficking victims, and some human rights claims under the ECHR.

Graduate Route / Graduate visa

Allows international students who have completed a UK degree to stay and work — or look for work — for two years after graduation, or three years for PhD holders. No sponsorship is required. Currently under review; from January 2027, the standard period will be reduced to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates.

Student visa

The main route for non-UK nationals aged 16 or over to study a qualifying course at a licensed UK education provider. Applicants must hold a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), meet English language requirements, and demonstrate sufficient funds. Recent reforms have tightened the rules on bringing dependants and on post-study work.

Restricted leave

A rarely-used form of leave granted to people who are excluded from receiving refugee status or humanitarian protection — for example, those deemed a danger to national security — but who cannot be removed because doing so would breach the ECHR. It carries significantly reduced rights compared to other forms of protection.

Exceptional leave to remain (historical)

A form of leave used before 2003 to grant protection outside the formal refugee framework. It was discretionary and carried fewer rights than refugee status. It was replaced by humanitarian protection and discretionary leave. Some older cases still reference it in immigration history.

Pre-settled status

Granted under the EU Settlement Scheme to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who had lived in the UK for less than five years by 31 December 2020. It is a temporary status, giving the right to live and work in the UK while building towards settled status. Since 2025, the Home Office has been automatically upgrading eligible holders to settled status using tax and benefits records.

Settled status

The permanent form of leave granted under the EU Settlement Scheme to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who had lived continuously in the UK for five years by 31 December 2020. It is the equivalent of indefinite leave to remain and allows holders to live, work, and access public funds in the UK indefinitely.

Entry clearance

Permission to travel to the UK and seek entry, granted in advance by a British post abroad. It takes the form of a visa sticker in a passport for visa nationals, or an entry certificate for others. Entry clearance is not a guarantee of entry — an immigration officer may still refuse admission at the border.

Entry clearance visa

A specific type of entry clearance valid for travel to the UK. It is activated when the holder passes through UK immigration control on arrival. There are three categories: temporary visit visas, visas leading to settlement, and settlement visas. Not all nationalities require a visa to enter the UK.

Visa

A conditional authorisation allowing a foreign national to travel to and/or stay in the UK. Visas are issued for specific purposes — work, study, family, or visits — and carry conditions governing permitted activities and duration of stay. Since 2025, visas are represented digitally as eVisas rather than physical stickers or cards.

eVisa

A digital record of a person’s immigration status, replacing the physical Biometric Residence Permit. Held in an online UKVI account, it is accessed and shared via a government portal. Introduced fully from January 2025, eVisas are now the standard means by which migrants prove their right to live, work, and rent in the UK.

Biometric Residence Permit

A physical card previously issued to non-EEA nationals as proof of their immigration status in the UK. It contained biometric data including a fingerprint and photograph. BRPs have been phased out and replaced by the digital eVisa system. Those issued before the transition may still hold valid BRPs until they expire.

Certificate of Entitlement

A document placed in the passport of a Commonwealth citizen to confirm they have the right of abode in the UK. It allows them to enter and live in the UK without a visa or leave to enter. Unlike a visa, it does not expire and is not conditional on any purpose of travel.

Naturalisation

The process by which a foreign national applies to become a British citizen. Applicants must generally have held indefinite leave to remain for at least 12 months, meet residency requirements, pass the Life in the UK test, and demonstrate good character. Upon successful naturalisation, a person may apply for a British passport.

Citizenship

The legal status of being a British national with full rights, including the right of abode, the right to vote in all elections, and the right to hold a British passport. Citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, registration, or naturalisation. It is distinct from other forms of British nationality that do not carry the same rights.

Right to reside

A person’s legal entitlement to be present in the UK, relevant particularly for access to benefits and housing support. It is distinct from leave to remain. EU nationals exercising treaty rights — such as working or being self-employed — held the right to reside before Brexit. Certain benefit claims require applicants to demonstrate both right to reside and habitual residence.

Habitual residence

A test applied to people claiming certain income-related benefits or seeking housing support, requiring them to demonstrate that they are genuinely settled in the UK as their main place of residence. It is not defined in law and must be assessed case by case. People with refugee status, ILR, and other forms of settled leave are generally exempt.

Return to the Migration Glossary

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]> Visa routes & programmes https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/visa-routes-programmes/ Sun, 17 May 2026 18:02:32 +0000 https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/?p=5908
Return to the Migration Glossary

Table of Contents

The official pathways through which people may come to the UK to work, study, join family, or seek protection.

Points-Based System (PBS)

The framework introduced in 2008 and substantially reformed after Brexit, through which the UK manages immigration for work and study. Applicants must score a minimum number of points based on factors such as job offer, salary, skill level, and English language ability. It replaced a patchwork of over 80 separate visa categories.

Skilled Worker visa

The main route for overseas nationals to work in the UK. Applicants must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor at RQF Level 6 (degree level) or above, with a general salary threshold of £41,700. It replaced the old Tier 2 (General) visa in December 2020 and is the most commonly issued work visa.

Health and Care Worker visa

A sub-route of the Skilled Worker visa for qualified doctors, nurses, and other eligible health and social care professionals working for the NHS or a registered care provider. It offers faster processing, lower fees, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Overseas recruitment of care workers was closed to new applicants from July 2025.

Global Talent visa

An unsponsored route for recognised or emerging leaders in academia, research, arts, culture, and digital technology. Applicants need endorsement from an approved body rather than a job offer. It offers flexibility to work for multiple employers and leads to settlement after three years, faster than most other routes.

Innovator Founder visa

A route for experienced overseas entrepreneurs wishing to establish an innovative business in the UK. Applicants must be endorsed by an approved body and meet investment requirements. It replaced the earlier Innovator and Start-up visas and is designed for those with genuinely novel, viable business ideas.

Scale-up visa

A route for highly skilled workers joining fast-growing UK companies. It requires a sponsored job offer for the first six months, after which it becomes unsponsored. The minimum salary threshold is £36,300. Designed to help high-growth businesses recruit internationally without long-term sponsorship obligations.

Graduate Route / Graduate visa

Allows international students who have completed a UK degree to stay and work — or look for work — for two years after graduation, or three years for PhD holders. No sponsorship is required. Currently under review; from January 2027, the standard period will be reduced to 18 months for bachelor’s and master’s graduates.

Student visa

The main route for non-UK nationals aged 16 or over to study a qualifying course at a licensed UK education provider. Applicants must hold a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), meet English language requirements, and demonstrate sufficient funds. Recent reforms have tightened the rules on bringing dependants and on post-study work.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

A unique reference number issued by a licensed UK education provider to a prospective international student. It confirms the details of the course and is a mandatory requirement for a Student visa application. Each CAS can only be used once and expires if not used within a set timeframe.

Intra-Company Transfer visa

Part of the Global Business Mobility routes, this allows multinational companies to transfer existing employees to a UK branch. Roles must be at RQF Level 6 or above. Unlike the Skilled Worker route, time spent on this visa does not count towards settlement, making it a temporary work route by design.

Youth Mobility Scheme

Allows young people aged 18 to 30 from a specified list of participating countries to live and work in the UK for up to two years. It is a reciprocal arrangement and does not require a job offer or sponsor. The scheme does not lead to settlement and is capped by annual quotas per participating country.

High Potential Individual visa

An unsponsored route for recent graduates of top-ranked overseas universities who wish to work or look for work in the UK. No job offer is needed. Grants permission for two years (three years for PhDs). From January 2026, applicants must meet a B2 English language standard.

Family / Spouse / Partner visa

A route allowing the spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner of a British citizen or settled person to join them in the UK. Applicants must meet a minimum income requirement — currently £29,000 — and demonstrate a genuine relationship. Significant recent increases to income thresholds have made this route harder to access.

Ancestry visa

Allows Commonwealth citizens aged 17 or over who have a grandparent born in the UK to come and work here for up to five years. It does not require a job offer and can be extended or lead to settlement. One of the few routes available to Commonwealth nationals without needing employer sponsorship.

Visitor / Standard Visitor visa

Allows nationals of visa-required countries to visit the UK for up to six months for tourism, family visits, business activities, or short study. Work is not permitted. The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) serves a similar purpose for nationals who previously entered the UK without any prior permission.

Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

A digital pre-travel permission required for nationals of countries that do not need a visa but are no longer able to enter the UK without prior authorisation following Brexit. This includes most EU and US citizens. The ETA is linked to a passport and must be obtained before travel. Full enforcement began in February 2026.

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

The scheme through which EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 could apply to secure their right to continue living here after Brexit. Successful applicants receive either settled status (ILR equivalent) or pre-settled status. The scheme is closed to most new applicants, though late applications are still accepted in some circumstances.

Resettlement scheme

A government programme through which refugees are brought to the UK directly from countries of refuge, rather than arriving and claiming asylum. The UK has run several such schemes, including for Syrian, Afghan, and Ukrainian nationals. Resettlement offers a safe and legal route and grants immediate leave to remain on arrival.

Safe and legal routes

A policy term referring to official, government-sanctioned pathways through which people can come to the UK for protection or other purposes — as distinct from irregular entry. The term has become politically significant as the government argues that such routes reduce the need for dangerous Channel crossings, though critics argue the routes are too limited in scale.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

A unique electronic reference number assigned by a licensed UK employer to a worker they wish to sponsor for a Skilled Worker or similar visa. It is not a physical document. The CoS records details of the job and salary and must be presented as part of the visa application. Each CoS can only be used once.

Sponsor licence

A Home Office authorisation allowing a UK employer to sponsor overseas workers or students on certain visa routes. Employers must apply for and maintain a licence, meet ongoing compliance duties, and are subject to audit. Failure to comply can result in suspension or revocation, preventing further overseas recruitment.

Immigration Salary List (ISL)

Introduced in April 2024 to replace the Shortage Occupation List. It identifies specific occupations — mostly at RQF Level 6 or above — where reduced salary thresholds apply for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Unlike its predecessor, it does not offer a flat percentage discount; each occupation has its own threshold set by the Migration Advisory Committee.

Shortage Occupation List (historical)

A list, abolished in April 2024, of occupations facing genuine labour shortages in the UK. Roles on the list benefited from a 20% salary discount and reduced visa fees under the Skilled Worker route. It was replaced by the Immigration Salary List. Some roles that previously appeared on the list are no longer eligible for overseas sponsorship at all.

Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

A time-limited list introduced in July 2025 to allow sponsorship of workers in certain below-degree-level roles (RQF Levels 3–5) that would otherwise no longer qualify under the Skilled Worker route. It is an interim measure while the Migration Advisory Committee reviews longer-term arrangements. Workers sponsored under TSL roles cannot bring dependants. The list expires at the end of 2026.

RQF Level (Regulated Qualifications Framework)

The system used in England and Northern Ireland to classify the skill level of qualifications and job roles on a scale from Entry Level to Level 8. In immigration, it determines eligibility for visa routes: Skilled Worker visas now generally require roles at RQF Level 6 (degree level) or above. The RQF level of a role — not the applicant’s own qualifications — is what matters for sponsorship purposes.

Support our work

We are an independent think tank and exist thanks to our supporters' generosity - please consider supporting our work with a donation today.
Donate
]]>