More than a million foreigners were offered visas to live in the UK over the last year, the highest figure on record, Home Office figures show.
The UK granted 994,951 visas in the 12 months to March 2022, up by more than a third compared with pre-pandemic levels. The numbers were driven by a rise in students and skilled migrants. There were also 113,000 visas given to Hongkongers under the scheme for British National Overseas passport holders that began in January last year in response to China’s national security crackdown.
In addition, the UK granted asylum to 15,451 people over the last year, taking the number given long-term residency in the UK to the highest since 2005 when records began.
Figures published by the Office
