Visa crackdown: ONS data shows 58,000 Indians left UK in 2024, highlighting impact of stricter immigration rules and post-study return trend
Indian nationals—primarily students and workers—have emerged as the largest group of foreigners to leave the United Kingdom in 2024, according to the latest migration data released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). The report reflects the effects of the British government’s tightening immigration policies, which have led to a sharp fall in net migration, reported freepressjournal.in.
Nearly 60,000 indians exited uk last year amid visa changes; net migration halved.
The ONS report reveals that approximately 37,000 Indians who arrived for study purposes, 18,000 for work, and 3,000 for other reasons exited the UK in 2024. This places Indian emigrants at the top, just ahead of Chinese nationals (45,000) in similar categories. Nigerians (16,000), Pakistanis (12,000), and Americans (8,000) followed among the top five departing nationalities.
-
The overall net migration fell by 431,000—almost half of what it was the previous year—marking the largest year-on-year drop in UK migration statistics since the pandemic began
-
The emigration spike has been attributed to students returning home after completing studies and restrictions on student dependents introduced under newer visa rules
Mary Gregory, Director of Population Statistics at ONS, noted that most non-EU emigrants in 2024 originally arrived on study-related visas. The easing of pandemic travel restrictions also enabled more people to leave the UK after completing their purpose of stay.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the figures, claiming, “Today’s stats show we have nearly halved net migration in the last year. We’re taking back control.” UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper pointed to increased removals of failed asylum seekers and penalties for illegal work as factors behind the trend.
However, former home secretary James Cleverly from the Opposition Conservatives argued the figures were the result of visa rule changes enacted under his leadership.
Record number of Indians leave UK as study and work visas tighten; political debate sharpens over migration control
