The latest quarterly report on Migration Statistics published by the UK's Office for National Statistics said that more than 503,000 Indian nationals received visitor visas for the year ending June 2019.
The report, published every quarter by the UK's Office for National Statistics, shows that Indian and Chinese nationals together accounted for nearly half (49 per cent) of all visitor visas granted, the British High Commission said in a statement.
The number of Indian students studying in the UK has seen a remarkable 42 per cent increase. In addition to the visitor visas, nearly 22,000 Indian nationals received a Tier 4 (study) visa for the year ending June 2019 up from approximately 15,000 in the last year. The number of Ind studying in the UK has almost doubled in three years and is now at the highest levels since 2011.
Indian nationals continue to receive more skilled work visas than the rest of the world combined, accounting for 52 per cent of all Tier 2 visas granted globally. More than 56,000 Ind received skilled work visas a 5 per cent increase compared to the last year, which is also the largest increase for any country.
Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner to India, said: "The continued rise in these figures is fantastic news for the UK-India relationship. It also shows that the UK continues to be a welcoming place for Ind to work, study and vacation. The more Ind who visit, the stronger the living bridge becomes between our two countries."
( With inputs from IANS )