Brexit effect: More Indian citizens got UK visas in 2018

LONDON: As the number of EU citizens moving to the UK dwindles due to uncertainty over Brexit, new figures released on Thursday showed more Indian citizens were granted visas across various streams during the year ending December 2018.

According to the data, 54% of all Tier 2 visas were granted to Indian citizens–the largest increase, up 3,023 (or 6%) compared to the previous year.

Indians were given the second highest number of visitor visas after the Chinese, accounting for 477,560 visas, or up 43,771 (10 %) over the previous year, reflecting the growing number of Indian tourists coming to the UK, figures released by the Home Office showed.

The figures substantiate those released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January, showing an increase in the number of Indian students coming to the UK, for the first time after a progressive fall since 2010. The Home Office said: “There were notable increases in the number of Tier 4 (Sponsored study) visas granted to Chinese nationals (up 13% to 99,723) and Indian nationals (up 35% to 19,505); this is the largest number of grants to Indian students since 2011”. Indians also accounted for a 35% rise in the number of family permits granted to citizens of the European Union, who have a right to move and live in the UK. The figures show a 35% rise, “driven by a rise in grants to Indian nationals (up 3,769 to 8,747)”.