Sir Keir Starmer says migration numbers will fall "significantly" under tighter rules proposed by Labour.
Net migration to the UK fell almost 50% to 431,000 in 2024.
He said the measures in the government's white paper - a blueprint for future laws - would make the system "controlled, selective and fair".
The government has set out measures it says will further reduce numbers.
How have numbers changed and what are the existing rules?
What are the new rules in the immigration white paper?
The proposed changes include:
English tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependants
overseas workers will generally need a degree-level qualification to apply for the main skilled worker visa instead of the equivalent of an A-level, and salary thresholds will rise
overseas graduates will only be able to stay in the UK for 18 months after their studies, instead of two years
immigrants will typically have to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay indefinitely – double the current five-year period. The BBC understands that the government will apply the longer period to those who are already in the UK as well as to new visa applicants
the dedicated visa for social care workers introduced during Covid will close to new applicants in June
employers who want to sponsor foreign workers will be incentivised to find and develop domestic talent
a limited pool of UNHCR-recognised refugees and displaced people will be able to apply for skilled worker visas
making it easier to remove or refuse entry or asylum to individuals who breach immigration rules or break the law
In her foreword to the white paper, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government would also set out further reforms to the asylum system and border security "in response to irregular and illegal migration" later in the summer.
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How many migrants come to the UK?
How many migrants come to the UK?
Net migration - the number of people coming to the UK, minus the number leaving - was 728,000 in the year to June 2024, according to provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
An estimated 948,000 people came to the UK expecting to stay at least a year in 2024, according to provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That was a 20% drop from the number of people who came in the 12 months to June 2023. The newly revised total for that period was 906,000, far higher than the previous estimate of 740,000.
It estimates that 517,000 people left the country.
The ONS estimates that 1.2 million people expecting to stay at least a year came to the UK in the year to June 2024. It estimates that 479,000 left the UK.
The net migration figure of 431,000 is the number of people coming to the UK, minus the number leaving.
The ONS figures show that of the 1.2 million people who came to live in the UK in the 12 months to June 2024:
Net migration in the 12 months to December 2023 was estimated at 860,000.
5% (58,000) were British nationals
Of those who came to live in the UK in the 12 months to December 2024:
10% (116,000) were EU nationals or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (EU+)
60,000 (6%) were British nationals
About 86% (one million) were non-EU+ nationals
122,000 (13%) were EU nationals, or from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland (EU+)
Of the one million non-EU+ nationals who came:
About 766,000 (81%) were from other countries
82% (845,000) were of working age (16 to 64 years)
Among non-EU+ migrants, 83% were aged 16 to 64 and the most common nationality coming for work or study was Indian.
17% (179,000) were children (under 16 years)
Over the period, 96,000 more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.
8% (84,000) claimed asylum, either after arriving via a regular route or arriving irregularly, for example, via small boats across the English Channel
About 17,000 more British nationals left the UK than came back.
Among non-EU+ migrants, the most common nationality coming to the UK for both work-related (116,000) and study-related (127,000) reasons was Indian.
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How does the government plan to reduce immigration?
What are the rules for student and graduate visas?
In May, the government unveiled plans to cut immigration further, including:
According to separate Home Office figures, 393,125 student visas were issued to foreign students in the year ending December 2024.
English tests for all visa applicants and adult dependants
That is 14% fewer than in the previous 12-month period, but still almost 50% higher (46%) than in 2019.
Skilled worker visas to generally require a degree-level qualification, instead of an A-level equivalent, and higher salary thresholds
In the year to December 2024, 21,978 visas were issued to student dependants, an 85% fall from the number issued in 2023.
Overseas graduates to be allowed to remain for 18 months after their course, instead of two years
Since January 2024, international postgraduate students have not been able to bring dependants unless their course is a research programme.
Immigrants will typically have to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay indefinitely – up from five years
Students who have already completed their degree can stay in the UK for two years - three years for those with a doctoral degree - to work under a graduate visa.
Employers to be encouraged to find and develop domestic talent
It will be made easier to remove or refuse entry or asylum to people who breach immigration rules or break the law
How have the salary rules for UK visa applicants changed?
How have the salary rules for UK visa applicants changed?
Most people wanting to work in the UK still have to apply for a visa through the points-based system (PBS).
Most people wanting to work in the UK have to apply for a visa through the points-based system (PBS).
But since 11 April 2024, they have needed a job offer with a higher salary.
Since April 2024, applicants have to earn at least £38,700 - an increase of nearly 50% from the previous £26,200 minimum.
Applicants have to earn at least £38,700 - an increase of nearly 50% from the previous £26,200 minimum.
The threshold does not apply to some jobs - such as in health and social care.
The threshold does not apply to some jobs - such as in health and social care, and teachers on national pay scales.
How does the points-based system work?
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Applicants need 70 points to qualify for a skilled worker visa, which can last up to five years before it needs to be extended.
What are the rules about family visas?
Having a job offer above a minimum skill level and speaking English is worth 50 points.
You need a family visa if you want to live with a relative who is a British citizen, or someone who has the right to be in the UK for more than six months.
The remaining 20 points can come from a job offer with a higher salary, working in a sector with job shortages, or having a relevant PhD.
The latest Home Office figures showed that 86,000 family-related visas were granted in the year ending December 2024, 7% more than in 2023.
The standard fee for a skilled visa is usually between £719 and £1,639. Applicants also have to pay a healthcare surcharge.
You can apply to live with your:
spouse or partner
fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
child
parent
relative who will provide long-term care for you
You have to demonstrate a good knowledge of English. The relative that you will live with in the UK has to meet the minimum income threshold.
This was initially also due to rise to £38,700 - a sharp increase from the previous £18,600 figure.
But after warnings the new rules risked separating families, the previous government dropped the new minimum to £29,000.
Anyone renewing an existing family visa does not have to meet the new earnings threshold.
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Are fewer people coming to work in health and social care?
The Home Office statistics showed that 27,000 visas were issued to people coming to the UK to work in health and social care in the 12 months to December 2024.
This is a fall of 81% compared with the previous 12 months. The number coming to work in the sector had increased significantly after temporary changes to the health and care visa rules.
In the year ending December 2024, there were approximately three dependants for each person coming to do a job in health and social care.
However, the number of dependants fell sharply in the last 10 months of the period, after the previous Conservative government changed the rules to stop international social care workers bringing their children or partners with them.
How does the points-based system currently work?
Applicants need 70 points to qualify for a skilled worker visa. This can last for up to five years before it needs to be extended.
You get 50 points from having a job offer above a minimum skill level, and speaking English.
The remaining 20 points can come from a higher salary, working in a sector with job shortages, or having a relevant PhD.
The standard fee for a skilled visa is usually between £719 and £1,639, depending on your circumstances.
Visa applicants also have to pay a healthcare surcharge for each year of their stay.
The amount can vary - but since April 2024, the standard fee has been £1,035 per year, up from £624.
What is the immigration salary list?
What is the immigration salary list?
The immigration salary list replaced what was previously called the shortage occupation list.
The immigration salary list replaced what was previously called the shortage occupation list.
It helps employers fill vacancies in key sectors.
It helps employers fill vacancies in key sectors.
These jobs have a lower salary threshold making it easier for applicants to gain enough points to get a visa.
These jobs have a lower salary threshold.
A wide range of construction jobs are on the list
The list includes:
The list includes:
health and care workers
health and care workers
pharmacists
pharmacists
graphic designers
graphic designers
some farming and fishing roles
some farming and fishing roles
construction workers
construction workers
vets
How many people get visas to work in health and social care?
A wide range of construction jobs are on the list
Home Office figures show that 23,000 visas were issued to people coming to the UK to work in health and social care in the 12 months to March 2025.
Employers used to be able to pay foreign workers 80% of the usual "going rate" to fill these positions.
That is 85% fewer than were issued at the peak in 2023.
But this lower rate was abolished for people applying after 4 April 2024.
Numbers increased significantly after temporary changes to the health and care visa rules in February 2022. These ended in June 2025.
What are the current rules for seasonal workers?
What are the rules about family visas and how many are given?
Temporary workers such as fruit pickers and poultry workers are covered by seasonal worker visas, subject to an annual quota.
A family visa is needed if someone wants to live with a relative who is a British citizen, or someone who has the right to be in the UK for more than six months
There were 35,561 seasonal worker visas issued in the year to December 2024.
People can apply to live with a:
More than three-quarters of these (78%) were from Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
spouse or partner
For 2025, the quota is 45,000:
fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner
child
parent
relative who will provide long-term care for you
The relative must meet a minimum income threshold.
The previous Conservative government had planned to increase this to £38,700 - up from £18,600.
But after warnings that this risked separating families, the new minimum was set at £29,000.
Anyone renewing an existing family visa does not have to meet the new earnings threshold.
The latest Home Office figures show that 76,000 family-related visas were granted in the year ending March 2025.
That's a 3% fall from the number issued in the 12 months to March 2024, but more than double the number granted in the year to March 2021.
How many student and graduate visas are issued?
According to Home Office figures for the year to March 2025, 403,000 student visas were issued to foreign students.
That is 10% fewer than in the 12 months to March 2024, but 50% more than the same period in 2019.
In the year ending March 2025, 18,000 visas were issued to student dependants, an 83% drop compared with the 12 months to March 2024.
Since January 2024, international postgraduate students have not been able to bring dependants unless their course is a research programme.
What are the rules for seasonal worker visas and how many are issued?
Temporary workers such as fruit pickers and poultry workers are covered by seasonal worker visas, which are subject to an annual quota.
The number of visas that can be granted is 45,000 for 2025:
43,000 horticulture workers
43,000 horticulture workers
2,000 poultry workers
2,000 poultry workers
Seasonal workers can stay in the UK for up to six months for horticultural work, and from 2 October to 31 December each year for poultry work.
Home Office figures show 34,700 seasonal worker visas were issued in the year to March 2025.
They cannot accept a permanent job or bring family members with them.
More than three-quarters were for workers from Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
How has Brexit changed immigration?
Before Brexit, EU and UK citizens had the freedom to live, work or study in any EU country without needing a visa.
However, this freedom of movement ended on 1 January 2021 when the UK left the EU.
In the 12 months to June 2024, the ONS figures showed that net migration for non-EU nationals - the difference between those arriving and those leaving - was 845,000.
In the same period, net EU migration was -95,000, meaning 95,000 more EU nationals left the UK than arrived.
Net migration of British nationals was -21,000, meaning more British people left the UK than came back.
