Immigration is a topic that attracts significant public attention, often accompanied by polarised views about whether numbers are ‘too high’ and whether migration has a good or bad effect on Welsh society. Much of the public discussion draws on UK-wide figures that do not tell the full story about population change in Wales.
The Welsh population and international migration
People come to Wales for a number of different reasons including employment, family life, education or protection. These movements shape the Welsh economy, public services and communities. Most of the decisions around immigration policy are made by the UK Government, which sets the rules on who can come to the UK, for how long and under what conditions. These decisions can have a significant impact in Wales, for example the recent decision to end the international recruitment of care workers.
However, the Welsh Government is responsible for related policy areas – including economic development, integration, housing, education, health and social cohesion – and has a role in ensuring those coming to Wales have the opportunity to settle, to contribute to the economy and Welsh society.
In addition to making policy decisions, the UK Government is also responsible for the collation of many data sources on migration and in some instances this has resulted in a lack of disaggregated data for Wales. This can lead to difficulties presenting the full story and facts about immigration in Wales.
People born outside the UK
The 2021 Census shows that 215,000 usual residents were born outside the UK. This marks an increase of 28.3% (48,000) since the 2011 Census. In England, this figure has risen by 33.6% (2.5 million). Of all the nations and regions of the UK, only one (the North East of England at 6.8%) had a lower proportion of its population born abroad than Wales (6.9%).
Figure 1: Percentage and numbers of the Welsh population born outside of the UK, by local authority area
Source: Office for National Statistics, Country of birth, 2021 Census
Net migration
Net migration is the measure of the net flow of people into or out of a country and is the primary statistic used to demonstrate overall impact of immigration (those who arrive) and emigration (those who leave). This figure is often presented in the media.The latest ONS release for the UK shows that for the year ending December 2025, long-term international net migration is 171,000, and has nearly halved from the year ending December 2024. The ONS attributes the fall to fewer non-EU nationals arriving for work-related reasons.
In Wales, the most recent data shows that in the year to mid-2024, international migration to Wales fell by almost a quarter compared with the year to mid 2023, to 22,680.
Figure 2: Net internal (movements between local authorities in the UK) and international migration (movements between Wales and the other countries of the world outside of the UK) in Wales between mid-2012 and mid-2024
Source: ONS, Analysis of population estimates tool for UK, 2024 England and Wales edition of this dataset
Figure 3: Net international migration, by local authority area; 2023 to 2024
Source: ONS, Population estimates for England and Wales: mid 2024, Population profiles for local areas
Coming to Wales to work
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Work visas allow people from outside the UK to undertake paid employment in the UK. The UK Government controls policy around work visas (who gets them and the conditions, such as length and type of employment) and is responsible for issuing them. There are several visa schemes which allow people to come to work in the UK. |
Work visas
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK’s main immigration route allowing non-UK nationals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible skilled job for a Home Office-approved employer. In addition to meeting eligibility requirements, since July 2025, some applicants for the general Skilled Worker Visa will need to have been offered employment with a salary of at least £41,700 a year or the applicable going rate for the occupation. As of April 2025 the proportion of adults working full-time (in UK Industrial Strategy (UKIS) Sectors) who earned at least that amount was lower in Wales compared to the UK (36.3% compared to 44.6%).
In the year ending March 2026 there were 252,775 visas issued (including dependents) in all work categories (166,576 were to main applicants and 86,199 were to dependants). This is 59% fewer than the year ending December 2023 when the number of work visas peaked.
The Home Office doesn’t disaggregate visa-route-specific (e.g. Skilled Worker visa) figures by UK nation so separate data for Wales is not available. A UK Parliament Committee has called on the Home Office to improve its understanding of skill shortages and salary levels across the devolved nations to understand how this route is working across the UK.
Working in Wales
There are some sources of data on who comes to Wales to work. The Annual Population Survey shows that, in the year ending 31 December 2025 , 146,100 persons in employment in Wales aged 16 plus were born outside the UK. However, place of birth is not an indication of immigration status.
Figure 4: Numbers of persons aged 16-64 in employment born outside the UK in Wales
Source: Stats Wales, Annual Population Survey: persons in Wales in employment by country of birth and year
A National Insurance Number (NINo) is allocated to anyone working in the UK, including to those migrating to the UK temporarily. In the year ending March 2026 , there were 10,906 new NINos registered to adult non-UK nationals in Wales, a decrease of 18.6 % from those registered the previous year. However, someone issued a NINo may no longer be in Wales, may have left the UK altogether, or may not be currently working.
Figure 5: Numbers of National Insurance allocations to adult overseas nationals entering Wales
Source: Stat-Xplore, DWP, NINO registrations
Studying in Wales
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Those wishing to study in the UK must apply for a study visa sponsored by a licensed education provider. |
In the year ending March 2026 409,954 Sponsored Study visa grants were granted to international students in the UK – 37% fewer than the peak in the year ending June 2023.
Data on student visas isn’t available for Wales. However, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) does publish data on where Welsh higher education students come from. In the academic year 2024/25 there were 20,935 international students enrolled by a Higher Education provider in Wales, a 24.7% decrease on figures (27,795) for 2023-24.
This issue is explored in more detail in our article on higher education.
Figure 6: Numbers of Higher Education students enrolled in a Higher Education provider in Wales
Source: HESA, HE student enrolments by permanent address
Seeking humanitarian protection
Asylum seekers
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Asylum accommodation is provided on a ‘no choice’ basis so asylum seekers can’t choose where in the UK they live. However, the Home Office will consider individual requests to be housed in a specific area in exceptional circumstances. |
Asylum seekers in receipt of support will be placed in temporary accommodation managed by housing providers on behalf of the Home Office. An asylum seeker who has arranged their own accommodation can apply for financial support (subsistence) only.
The most recent data (year ending March 2026) shows there were 3,391 asylum seekers receiving support in Wales. This includes those in initial accommodation, in contingency accommodation, in dispersal accommodation and those receiving subsistence support only.
Refugees
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There are limited ‘safe and legal’ routes to enter the UK for humanitarian reasons. These routes “are authorised immigration arrangements which enable a person to move to another country for humanitarian reasons”. |
Resettlement schemes include the UK resettlement scheme, Mandate Resettlement Scheme and community sponsorship scheme which are available to people recognised as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Nationality-specific routes have been established by the UK Government for Afghans, Ukrainians and people from Hong Kong.
Figure 7: Number of arrivals through the Homes for Ukraine (not including super sponsors), the Afghan Resettlement Programme and Supported asylum, by local authority, 31 March 2026
Source: Home Office and Ministry of Housing. Communities & Local Government, Regional and local authority data on immigration groups, year ending March 2026
While there is data on asylum seekers in receipt of support and some resettlement scheme data, there are gaps, for instance there is no data on the numbers of British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong arriving in Wales – although there have been 186,319 visas granted since the scheme opened in 2021.
Informing policy and the need for better data
Immigration will continue to be shaped primarily by UK Government decisions about who can come to the UK and under what conditions. Yet the Welsh Government carries responsibility for many of the services and systems affecting people once they arrive — from health to education, from integration to community cohesion.
Without consistent and Wales-specific data, it is difficult to fully understand the number of people who choose to make Wales their home through work, study or sanctuary routes. In the absence of this evidence, discussions risk being driven more by perception than reality.
Article by Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
