Net migration to the United Kingdom—currently estimated at 204,000 for the year to June 2025—will rise toward 300,000 by the end of the decade, according to new comments from Professor Brian Bell, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Bell told journalists that a rebound is likely as overseas students and high-skilled workers return in greater numbers once post-pandemic visa restrictions stabilise.
The forecast matters for employers because it suggests continued access to international talent, even as the government tightens salary thresholds and English-language requirements. Bell noted that Skilled Worker migrants are projected to add a net £47 billion to public finances over their lifetimes, offsetting the £5.6 billion lifetime cost of family-visa entrants.
![Migration Advisory Committee predicts UK net migration will climb back to 300,000 by 2030]()
Companies and individuals navigating these shifting rules can simplify the process through VisaHQ, whose online platform offers end-to-end application support, document checking and real-time status updates for every major UK visa type. Whether you’re recruiting abroad or planning a move yourself, you can explore tailored guidance at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
Politically, the estimate lands in a febrile environment: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “significantly” reduce immigration, while Reform UK calls for an outright cap. The MAC’s modelling will feed into the Home Office’s 2026 review of the points-based system and could influence whether exemptions—for example in health and social care—are maintained.
For corporate mobility teams the takeaway is medium-term stability: while salary floors may rise, the MAC expects demand-driven labour migration to persist, particularly in tech, engineering and higher education.
The forecast matters for employers because it suggests continued access to international talent, even as the government tightens salary thresholds and English-language requirements. Bell noted that Skilled Worker migrants are projected to add a net £47 billion to public finances over their lifetimes, offsetting the £5.6 billion lifetime cost of family-visa entrants.
Companies and individuals navigating these shifting rules can simplify the process through VisaHQ, whose online platform offers end-to-end application support, document checking and real-time status updates for every major UK visa type. Whether you’re recruiting abroad or planning a move yourself, you can explore tailored guidance at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
Politically, the estimate lands in a febrile environment: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “significantly” reduce immigration, while Reform UK calls for an outright cap. The MAC’s modelling will feed into the Home Office’s 2026 review of the points-based system and could influence whether exemptions—for example in health and social care—are maintained.
For corporate mobility teams the takeaway is medium-term stability: while salary floors may rise, the MAC expects demand-driven labour migration to persist, particularly in tech, engineering and higher education.
