The number of UK visas granted to Indian nationals has continued to experience strong growth, according to the latest update from the UK Office for National Statistics. 550,925 Indians were granted UK visas in the year ending June 2018, a 10% increase on the previous year. Visit visas increased by 10% to 454,658, which demonstrates that Indians are continuing to chose the UK as a holiday destination. Tier 4 visas granted to Indian students touched 15,390, an increase of 32% on the previous 12 months.
Over 6,500 Indians came for short-term study in the UK during the same period. This is the third successive year that student visa numbers have increased.
India continues to receive more UK work visas than the rest of the world combined. Over 60,000 work visas were issued last year.
British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith, said, “The latest figures reinforce a trend we have noticed for some time – that across the board more and more Indians are choosing the UK as a destination to visit, work in and study. This is fantastic.
“I’m particularly pleased to note that numbers of Indian students have increased by 32%. I welcome this evidence that international students wish to study at our world class institutions and are succeeding in securing places there.”
