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The UK’s immigration witnessed significant shifts in 2024, with over 100,000 – a record-high asylum applications received.
According to the UK Home Office, asylum applications surged to 108,000, surpassing the previous peak of 103,000 in 2022.
PUNCH Online retrieved from this from immigration updates reports shared on the UK website on Thursday.
This sharp increase has placed a strain on accommodation facilities, with 38,079 asylum seekers housed in hotels by the end of December—a 30% rise since Labour assumed office in July 2024, Financial Times says.
“The EU Settlement Scheme, which allows EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens to secure their residency status in the UK post-Brexit, has also seen continued activity.
“As of December 31, 2024, a total of 8.2 million applications had been concluded, with 50% (4.1 million) granted settled status, 35% (2.9 million) granted pre-settled status, and 15% resulting in other outcomes,” according to the UK Home Office website.
Notably, 6.3 million people have applied since the scheme began, with 26% (1.6 million) making at least one repeat application.
As part of ongoing immigration enforcement efforts, deportations have increased.
Home Office figures show that over 13,000 migrants were deported since Labour took office, reflecting an intensified crackdown on illegal migration.
“We are committed to reducing small boat crossings and ensuring a fair but firm immigration system,” a government spokesperson stated in The Times.
Decline in Work Visas
While asylum applications reached record levels, work visa approvals saw a 37% decline in 2024, with 210,098 visas granted, marking a significant drop compared to the previous year.
The hardest-hit sector was health and social care, which saw an 81% reduction, with only 27,174 visas issued.
This decline is largely attributed to stricter immigration policies introduced by the previous Conservative government to curb net migration.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged further reforms to the immigration system, stating that businesses should prioritize training British workers instead of relying on foreign labour.
“We need to build a system that works for our economy while reducing overall migration,” Starmer emphasised, according to a Reuters report.
Additionally, the Home Office’s transition to digital eVisas has faced delays, leaving nearly one million residents without updated documentation after biometric residence permits expired on December 31, 2024.
To address the issue, the government extended the validity of physical documents until March 31, 2025, to allow residents more time to register for eVisas.
“We encourage all affected individuals to complete their eVisa registration as soon as possible,” a Home Office spokesperson advised.
As the UK government pushes for tighter immigration controls, the challenge, according to it, remains in balancing economic needs with migration policies.
While asylum applications and deportations rise, the workforce struggles with reduced visa approvals, creating an evolving and complex immigration landscape.
