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United Kingdom

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
95,624
Top destination, 2023
Spain
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
84,429
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
6.9%
NationalityGBISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<GBUNITED<KINGDOM<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
GB5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of the United Kingdom need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 180 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from the United Kingdom move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Spain18,269
  2. United States10,850
  3. Australia10,185
  4. Portugal7,365
  5. Japan6,190
  6. Germany6,055
  7. New Zealand5,847
  8. Canada4,990
  9. Ireland4,800
  10. France3,645
  11. Netherlands3,577
  12. Switzerland2,040
  13. Türkiye2,015
  14. South Korea1,651
  15. Denmark1,207

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

79k159k200020032006200920122015201820212023
79k159k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200094,735
2001111,538
2002116,893
2003123,572
2004152,566
2005156,004
2006158,871
2007152,016
2008143,546
2009130,687
2010118,243
2011110,100
2012115,747
2013123,384
2014121,703
2015123,221
2016132,079
2017132,522
2018133,335
2019149,770
2020128,030
2021100,153
202295,812
202395,624
Share going to the top destination
19.1%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in the United Kingdom who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Australia1,107,102
  2. United States894,789
  3. Canada427,526
  4. Spain294,986
  5. Ireland293,559
  6. New Zealand254,524
  7. Poland184,964
  8. France163,042
  9. Thailand116,582
  10. Italy67,246
  11. Netherlands62,657
  12. South Africa55,144

Living abroad by year

2.4M4.8M19901995200020052010201520202024
2.4M4.8M19902000201020202024
Data table
19903,869,251
19953,958,015
20003,965,079
20054,236,414
20104,535,077
20154,583,485
20204,710,579
20244,804,944
Living abroad, 2024
4,804,944
Change since 2000
+21.2%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
23.0%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of the United Kingdom by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B223,343
  2. J116,462
  3. C1/D6,712
  4. L14,860
  5. F14,502
  6. L23,106
  7. O13,023
  8. O22,919
  9. A22,229
  10. I2,222

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

46k92k201720182019202020212022202320242025
46k92k20172019202120232025
Data table
201764,607
201891,649
201987,329
202038,056
202122,303
202275,454
202391,337
202488,899
202584,429
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR1647
  2. CR1426
  3. E1198
  4. IR5157
  5. IR2148
  6. F3131
  7. F487
  8. E385
Immigrant visas, FY2025
2,204
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
547
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in the United Kingdom who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of the United Kingdom with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

6,33513k2015201620172018201920202021202220232024
6,33513k201520172019202120232024
Data table
201512,590
201612,670
201710,950
20189,910
201911,340
20209,660
20219,230
20229,140
20239,720
20249,020
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens5,350
  2. Employment-based preferences3,300
  3. Family-sponsored preferences270
  4. Other classes50
  5. Diversity visa lottery30
  6. Refugees and asylees20
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)38,740
  2. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)30,000
  3. Spouses and children20,090
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)8,630
  5. Other temporary workers6,910
  6. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)5,150
  7. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)230
  8. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)100
Green cards, FY2024 (born in the United Kingdom)
9,020
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in the United Kingdom)
10,790
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
4,419,530
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of the United Kingdom, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20251,12014,3551,5853,345840
20241,30514,8401,4254,130900
20231,12513,9402,1655,0001,135
20221,20511,5202,3304,500660
20218708,2652,5106,5602,160
20206006,3801,0603,4102,070
201996513,1651,9805,6351,685
201896011,9202,0605,6602,035
20171,27510,8502,3255,3101,960
20161,80010,4602,2705,8101,205
20151,7558,9102,0555,3601,355
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of the United Kingdom, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

7,87716k2005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
7,87716k2005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–069,866
2006–0710,706
2007–0813,163
2008–0911,455
2009–108,582
2010–1111,820
2011–1215,754
2012–1313,307
2013–149,511
2014–158,794
2015–167,801
2016–178,256
2017–185,852
2018–196,891
2019–204,990
2020–213,811
2021–224,102
2022–236,106
2023–246,716
2024–257,087
2025–267,807
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills5,637
  2. Specialist Skills1,872
  3. Labour Agreement163
  4. Short-term79
  5. Medium-term56
Granted, 2025–26
7,807
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
11.3%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of the United Kingdom living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

11k22k2012201420162018202220242025
11k22k2012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201214,653
201314,881
201415,262
201515,826
201616,454
201717,200
201817,943
201918,631
202218,959
202319,909
202421,139
202522,428
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident7,265
  2. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services3,615
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National3,207
  4. Designated Activities2,495
  5. Instructor1,679
  6. Dependent1,040
  7. Student1,039
  8. Highly Skilled Professional420
  9. Business Manager363
  10. Professor318
Residents, December 2025
22,428
In work-related statuses
6,858
Share in work-related statuses
30.6%
Students
1,039
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in the United Kingdom

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in the United Kingdom, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France132,469124,5167,9466.0%
Spain123,058115,8604,7553.9%
Greece34,12630,4763,50510.3%
Germany30,16928,4521,3714.5%
Netherlands27,72626,7004141.5%
Portugal18,17117,1346113.4%
Italy15,90114,9469546.0%
Switzerland14,46412,5541,84712.8%
Belgium11,9029,4622,27319.1%
Norway11,6889,8911,79715.4%
Denmark10,8327,8082,39622.1%
Iceland5,5084,64778814.3%
Malta5,1044,7842645.2%
Austria4,4063,85653712.2%
Finland4,2543,60662814.8%

Applications by year

235k471k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
235k471k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009194,161
2010198,046
2011212,564
2012210,610
2013225,629
2014236,181
2015248,278
2016252,986
2017264,979
2018275,099
2019277,743
202077,341
202171,824
2022282,109
2023405,631
2024470,569
Refusal rate, 2024
6.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
4.3%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of the United Kingdom in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Work15,735
  2. Family14,340
  3. Other reasons12,018
  4. Education7,151
First permits by country
  1. Spain11,949
  2. France8,235
  3. Germany3,732
  4. Netherlands3,101
  5. Switzerland3,008
  6. Portugal2,542
  7. Italy2,212
  8. Denmark1,981
  9. Sweden1,647
  10. Norway1,558
  11. Cyprus1,438
  12. Belgium991
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card1,110
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)4,399
  3. Researchers850
  4. Other paid activities9,376
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
1,257
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
10,683
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
21,523
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
1,305
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
973,005
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
8,904
Changed status into work, 2025
546
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
553
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
798
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of the United Kingdom in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20252,9512,438252221040
Sweden202594132034522065
Netherlands20252,9101,0906409950185
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025327196131
Austria2025697748-51
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark2,438
  2. Sweden320
  3. Netherlands1,090
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Germany

Citizens of the United Kingdom living in Germany on 31 December 2025, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

By residence status, 31 Dec 2025
  1. EU free movement44,265
  2. Neither tolerated nor permitted14,905
  3. Employment5,320
  4. Application for a residence title pending4,095
  5. Permanent residence title3,225
  6. Family reasons3,075
  7. Education and training1,015
  8. Special residence rights and national visas775
  9. International law, humanitarian or political reasons60
  10. Tolerated stay (Duldung)45
  11. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure5

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

77k155k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
77k155k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
2014103,756
2015105,965
2016107,005
2017116,465
2018106,155
201993,365
202091,375
202184,945
202284,605
202383,885
202480,345
2025154,920
Residents in Germany, 31 Dec 2025
77,460
With a residence title for employment
5,320
Permanent residence title
3,225
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in the United Kingdom

Countries with an embassy or consulate in the United Kingdom, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Afghanistan1——
Albania1——
Algeria11—
Angola1——
Argentina1——
Armenia1——
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Bahrain1——
Belarus1——
Belgium1——
Bolivia1——
Bosnia and Herzegovina1——
Brazil11—
Bulgaria1—1
Burundi1——
Cambodia1——
Chile1——
China13—
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Croatia1——
Cuba1——
Czechia11—
Côte d’Ivoire1——
DR Congo1——
Dominican Republic1——
Ecuador1——
Egypt1——
El Salvador1——
Equatorial Guinea1——
Eritrea1——
Estonia1——
Ethiopia1——
Finland1——
France12—
Gabon1——
Georgia1——
Germany11—
Greece1——
Guatemala1——
Guinea1——
Guyana1——
Haiti1——
Honduras1——
Hungary1——
Iceland1——
Indonesia1——
Iran1——
Iraq1——
Ireland1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan11—
Jordan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Kosovo1——
Kuwait1——
Kyrgyzstan1——
Laos1——
Latvia1——
Lebanon1——
Liberia1——
Libya1——
Lithuania1——
Luxembourg1——
Madagascar1——
Malaysia1——
Maldives1——
Mauritania1——
Mexico1——
Moldova1——
Monaco1——
Mongolia1——
Montenegro1——
Morocco11—
Myanmar1——
Nepal1——
Netherlands1——
Nicaragua1——
North Korea1——
North Macedonia1——
Norway1——
Oman1——
Palestine1——
Panama1——
Paraguay1——
Peru1——
Philippines1——
Poland13—
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Senegal1——
Serbia1——
Slovakia1——
Slovenia1—1
South Korea1——
South Sudan1——
Spain11—
Sudan1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1——
Syria1——
Tajikistan1——
Thailand1——
Timor-Leste1——
Togo1——
Tunisia1——
Turkmenistan1——
Tuvalu——1
Türkiye13—
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United States—2—
Uruguay1——
Uzbekistan1——
Vatican City1——
Venezuela1——
Vietnam1——
Yemen1——
Zimbabwe1——
Countries
124
Missions
145
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by the United Kingdom, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

3,2786,5562000200320062009201220152018202120242025
3,2786,556200020052010201520202025
Data table
20005,074
20014,956
20025,235
20035,689
20045,938
20056,045
20066,106
20076,556
20085,995
20095,243
20104,951
20115,099
20124,945
20134,805
20144,937
20155,003
20164,582
20174,309
20184,390
20194,215
20203,248
20213,462
20223,965
20234,486
20244,834
20255,364
Remittances received, 2025
US$5,364 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from the United Kingdom

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • United Kingdom → France
  • United Kingdom → Spain
  • United Kingdom → United States
  • United Kingdom → Australia
  • United Kingdom → Portugal
  • United Kingdom → Greece
  • United Kingdom → Japan
  • United Kingdom → Germany
  • United Kingdom → New Zealand
  • United Kingdom → Netherlands
  • United Kingdom → Canada
  • United Kingdom → Ireland
  • United Kingdom → Italy
  • United Kingdom → Switzerland
  • United Kingdom → Belgium
  • United Kingdom → Norway
  • United Kingdom → Denmark
  • United Kingdom → Türkiye
  • United Kingdom → South Korea
  • United Kingdom → Iceland
  • United Kingdom → Malta
  • United Kingdom → Sweden
  • United Kingdom → Austria
  • United Kingdom → Finland
  • United Kingdom → Czechia
  • United Kingdom → Hungary
  • United Kingdom → Poland
  • United Kingdom → Bulgaria
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