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Saudi Arabia → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Saudi Arabia
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom

Inflows of nationals of Saudi Arabia recorded by the United Kingdom; stock of nationals of Saudi Arabia living there; and acquisitions of the United Kingdom's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

3,0006,00020122015
3,0006,00020122015
Data table
20122,000
20134,000
20145,000
20156,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——115
2022——100
2021——74
2020——129
2019——120
2018——67
2017——63
2016——70
20156,000—53
20145,000—42
20134,000—67
20122,000—69
2011——49
2010——52
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Saudi Arabia, and students from Saudi Arabia at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study6,787
  2. Visitor467
  3. Work419
  4. Other411
  5. Family21

Visas issued by year

73k146k201020122014201620182020202220242025
73k146k201020132016201920222025
Data table
201077,021
201185,749
201294,625
2013110,222
2014116,426
2015121,652
2016132,857
2017124,595
2018144,730
2019146,198
202029,369
202154,999
202241,960
202314,259
20248,726
20258,105

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

4,8639,72520152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
4,8639,725201520172019202120232025
Data table
20158,670
20168,605
20178,135
20188,050
20198,175
20208,490
20218,830
20228,740
20238,995
20249,620
20259,725
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

First residence permits issued by the United Kingdom to citizens of Saudi Arabia (Eurostat).

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019001208,023
20189,2590677,802
201710,2770637,891
201610,8560708,427
201510,1450538,469
201411,6060428,922
201310,0740679,344
20129,7940690
201110,7210490
201014,4470520
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United Kingdom in Saudi Arabia, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyRiyadhgov.uk
ConsulateJeddahgov.uk
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from Saudi Arabia move (OECD, 2023).

Other destinations for people from Saudi Arabia, 2023
  1. Türkiye1,048
  2. Japan552
  3. Australia550
  4. United States520
  5. Germany465
  6. South Korea428
  7. Canada235
  8. Switzerland230
  9. Netherlands125
  10. France118
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more