Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported a dramatic 80 % fall in net migration in the year to June 2025—down by 204,000 people compared with the post-pandemic peak. Indians accounted for the single largest exodus, with 45,000 former students, 22,000 work-visa holders and about 7,000 others leaving, bringing total Indian departures to 74,000.
The slide follows successive policy squeezes: a higher salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa, a near-ban on health-sector dependants and steeper sponsor compliance fees. As a result, quarterly Skilled Worker grants have halved since early 2024, and Health & Care Worker visas have crashed 94 % from their 2023 high. Industry bodies warn that the construction sector alone needs 61,000 new workers annually but received just 1,660 relevant visas last year.
![ONS Data Show 74,000 Indians Quit the UK as Net Migration Slumps 80 %]()
For Indian businesses, the numbers matter because the UK remains a top destination for higher education and offshore acquisitions. Consultants caution that smaller firms may struggle to move key staff to Britain as sponsorship costs rise, while graduates eyeing post-study work routes face a tougher jobs market. At the same time, recruiters in India say the outflow of returnees is enlarging the domestic talent pool in STEM and healthcare.
The ONS figures give the UK government ammunition to claim its reforms are working, but stakeholders dispute the economic wisdom. The London-based Work Rights Centre argues that curbs are “actively undermining growth”, while the Migration Advisory Committee has flagged exploitation risks in tied-visa sectors. Expect further rule changes when Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publishes a promised white paper on “balanced migration” before Christmas.
The slide follows successive policy squeezes: a higher salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa, a near-ban on health-sector dependants and steeper sponsor compliance fees. As a result, quarterly Skilled Worker grants have halved since early 2024, and Health & Care Worker visas have crashed 94 % from their 2023 high. Industry bodies warn that the construction sector alone needs 61,000 new workers annually but received just 1,660 relevant visas last year.
For Indian businesses, the numbers matter because the UK remains a top destination for higher education and offshore acquisitions. Consultants caution that smaller firms may struggle to move key staff to Britain as sponsorship costs rise, while graduates eyeing post-study work routes face a tougher jobs market. At the same time, recruiters in India say the outflow of returnees is enlarging the domestic talent pool in STEM and healthcare.
The ONS figures give the UK government ammunition to claim its reforms are working, but stakeholders dispute the economic wisdom. The London-based Work Rights Centre argues that curbs are “actively undermining growth”, while the Migration Advisory Committee has flagged exploitation risks in tied-visa sectors. Expect further rule changes when Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood publishes a promised white paper on “balanced migration” before Christmas.
