The ONS says the drop is "driven by falling numbers of people coming to work and study, particularly student dependants", following previous policy changes.

Fewer work and study visas contributed to a near-halving in net migration into the U.K. — the number of people moving to the U.K. minus the number of those moving abroad — in 2024.

Long-term net migration to Britain fell to 431,000 in 2024, down by almost a half compared to a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said on Thursday.