UK Visit Visa Statistics 2025: What the Latest Home Office Data Reveals
Key UK Visitor Statistics (Year Ending September 2025):
Visitor demand remains strong
2.2 million UK Visit Visas granted (12 month period ending June)
19.6 million ETAs issued since October 2023
135.9 million total arrivals to the UK
60+ million non-British travellers entering the UK
Work visas down 27% and partner visas down 33%
The UK Home Office has released its latest immigration statistics (27 November 2025), offering valuable insight into how many people are visiting the UK and who still needs a visa. The headline figure is striking: 2.2 million UK Visit Visas were granted in the year ending September 2025. This makes the Visit Visa the largest single visa category, far exceeding work, study, and family routes.
Alongside this, the UK issued 19.6 million Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) since the scheme launched in October 2023. ETAs allow many nationalities—including Gulf countries and Jordan—to visit the UK without needing a traditional visa. This shift means that travellers who still require a Visit Visa (such as those from South Asia, Africa, and parts of the Middle East) now represent an even more important group.
Despite declines in other immigration categories—such as work visas (–27%) and partner visas (–33%)—visitor demand has stayed strong. Tourism, business travel, and family visits continue to recover, and the UK remains one of the world's most popular destinations.
When looking at the bigger picture, the UK recorded 135.9 million arrivals in the past year. More than 60 million of these were non-British travellers, and the majority came for short-term visits. With Visit Visas, ETAs, and visa-free arrivals combined, the UK is receiving more legitimate visitors than at any time in the last decade.
For applicants from countries that still require a Visit Visa, this means two things:
Demand is high, and the UK continues welcoming millions of visitors.
Competition and scrutiny remain, making well-prepared applications more important than ever.