74,000 Indians leave UK as net migration falls to five-year low

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration has now fallen to around 204,000, its lowest level since 2021.

The fall comes amid record emigration, tighter visa rules, and declining interest in the UK as a destination for work and study.

Total emigration reached 693,000, the highest figure since 2012, driven largely by departures among non-EU students.

Indians lead in departures

Indian nationals formed the largest non-EU group to leave the UK.

According to ONS data, 45,000 Indian students left after completing their studies, while 22,000 departed from work visa categories, and 7,000 left on other visas.

In total, 74,000 Indians exited the country, followed by 42,000 Chinese nationals.

Despite the exodus, Indians remain the largest group arriving, with 90,000 study visas and 46,000 work visas granted during the same period. Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, and Nigerian citizens continue to be among the top non-EU arrivals.

Visa issuance declines to its lowest since 2022

Home Office data for the year to September 2025 shows a broader cooling in migration trends with 3.1 million visas issued, slightly down from 3.2 million the previous year.

Work visas dropped sharply to 273,442, a 39% fall and the lowest since 2020.

Skilled Worker visas declined due to higher salary thresholds and increased sponsorship costs.

Health and Care Worker visas saw one of the steepest drops—falling from over 45,000 in Q3 2023 to just 11,733 in Q3 2025. General Skilled Worker visas also halved over the past year.

Mary Gregory of the ONS said the decline reflects “fewer people choosing the UK for work or study, fewer dependants arriving, and more people leaving.”

Non-EU emigration is being driven mainly by Indian and Chinese students completing their courses, while nine in ten British emigrants are of working age.

UK government welcomes drop

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood hailed the reduction, calling net migration “at a five-year low.”

She said the government’s new reforms are designed to ensure migrants “contribute more than they take.”

However, migration specialists warn that aggressive cuts to skilled worker routes could hinder economic growth. Dr. Dora Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, said tightening visa rules risks leaving key sectors understaffed.