UK terminology
Definitions that keep similar-looking statistics distinct.
Long-term international migrant
A person changing their country of usual residence for at least 12 months. ONS estimates include British nationals.
Net migration
Immigration minus emigration over the same period. It can be negative. Published rounded values may not exactly reconcile.
Non-UK-born
Born outside the United Kingdom. This is a birthplace category, not an immigration status or citizenship category.
Nationality
Nationality in the source's statistical classification. The ONS British category is an administrative-data approximation and can differ from a legal nationality definition.
EU+
In migration estimates from year ending June 2021, EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, excluding British nationals. Earlier definitions differ.
Entry clearance
Permission granted before travel under a visa route. A grant is not proof of arrival or a count of unique long-term migrants.
Worker route
A Home Office visa category within broader work routes. This dashboard's count includes dependants and is not a count of jobs.
Dependant
A partner or child included under a route's dependent-family rules. Dependants must not be silently counted as main applicants.
Asylum claimant
Someone claiming international protection. Here, claimant counts include dependants, where the Home Office summary specifies people.
Refugee
A person recognised as needing protection under the refugee framework. An asylum claimant or a humanitarian grant is not automatically a refugee admission.
Small-boat arrival
A detected arrival by small boat within Home Office coverage; a subset of detected irregular arrivals.
Return
A recorded enforced or voluntary return. A return is not necessarily a deportation.
Settlement
Indefinite permission to stay. Home Office settlement totals here exclude EU Settlement Scheme settled status.
Citizenship grant
British citizenship acquired through naturalisation or registration. Not equivalent to naturalisation alone.
Usual resident
The Census 2021 usual-residence population, rather than all visitors present on Census day.
Year ending
A 12-month period ending on the stated date. Year ending June 2026 covers July 2025 to June 2026.