This is most popular destination for Indian migrants, especially Malayalis

NEW DELHI: UK is the number one choice of Malayalee youth for higher studies or job search after that. Now, when the figures for 2023 come out, the figures indicate that Indians are at the top of the list of immigrants to the UK. On the whole, 2,50,000 Indians immigrated to the UK in 2023. 1.27 lakh people came to the UK for work, 1.15 lakh for study and 9,000 for other purposes.

Meanwhile total immigration to the UK has fallen by ten per cent. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Nigeria is second only to India with 141,000 migrants. The Chinese are third and Pakistanis fourth in sending migrants to the UK.

As for employment visas, 337,240 employment visas and 146,477 healthcare visas were granted in 2023. About 114,409 graduate visas were also granted, allowing students to work after graduation. According to UK Home Office Immigration Statistics, 50,503 of them are Indians.

85% of migrants to the UK are from outside the EU. The rest of the top five are from China, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.