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UK immigration latest: Net migration falls to 246,000 in lead-up to Brexit UK immigration latest: Net migration falls to 246,000 in lead-up to Brexit as thousands of EU citizens leave
(35 minutes later)
The number of foreign citizens living long-term in the UK has risen by 246,000 in a year, new figures released by the Office for National Statistics show. Net migration to the UK has fallen by a quarter to 246,000 in a year as EU citizens flee Britain ahead of Brexit, new figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
Net migration in the 12 months to March was down 81,000 the previous year and 342,000 left the country in what the ONS called a “statistically significant change”. The number of people arriving to live long-term in the country was down by 81,000 on the previous year, in what the ONS called a “statistically significant change”.
More follows The figure shows net migration, showing the number of people moving to the UK minus those leaving it, at the lowest level for three years.
The ONS said the change was mostly caused by plummeting arrivals from the European Union, which fell by 51,000, the number of EU citizens leaving Britain rose by 33,000.
“The net migration change was driven by an increase in emigration, mainly for EU citizens and in particular EU8 citizens, and a decrease in immigration across all groups,” Nicola White, the head of international migration statistics,added.
“These results indicate that the EU referendum result may be influencing people’s decision to migrate into and out of the UK, particularly EU and EU8 citizens. It is too early to tell if this is an indication of a long-term trend.”
Of the 51,000 non-British citizens who returned to their home countries, 44,000 were EU citizens - up 20,000 from the previous year - half of whom were from eight countries including Poland that joined the EU in 2004.
Of the 275,000 people who arrived to work, the majority had a definite job waiting and a smaller proportion - 87,000 – came looking for a job.
Meanwhile, the number of people moving abroad to work increased by 21,000 to 122,000.
Long-term immigration to study fell for all nationalities and most international students were non-EU citizens.
A total of 16,211 people were also granted asylum, resettlement or other protection in the year to June.