Brexit has not driven Italians out of the UK, migration data shows, but it has changed who can come, who can stay, and under what conditions.
For decades, London was one of the most accessible European destinations for young Italians, as many came to learn English, look for work, study, or simply try their luck before deciding what to do next.
Today, that path is much more difficult: as since the end of free movement, moving to the UK often requires financial resources, a visa, an employer sponsor or a clearer career plan.
Francesco Bongarrà, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London, explained: “Brexit has changed the profile of Italians in the UK more than it has wiped out the community. Those who came to stay have stayed.
“Many of those who didn’t meet the requirements to remain have left mainly for tax reasons and, above all, students, who can no longer afford international student fees.
“Moving to London today, is almost as difficult as moving to the United States.”
For years, the Italian presence in the UK grew steadily: between 2010 and 2021, the number of Italian citizens almost tripled, according to the ONS, from around 108,000 to 342,000.
But that figure stops at 2021 and captures only those already living in the country.
To understand what has happened since the end of free movement, we need to look at the most recent years.
The turning point can be seen in the migration figures, as in the years following the referendum, the number of people leaving Italy for the UK remained high, peaking in 2020, at over 36,000, despite the pandemic, according to ISTAT.
It was a final rush before the new rules came into force: many moved while the door was still open.
The influx has not ceased since the new system came into force.
AIRE data for 2022–2024 shows that Italians continued to move to the UK , around 17,000 in 2022, 16,000 in 2023 and over 18,000 in 2024 , although below the exceptional peak of 2020.
However, during the same period, returns to Italy have almost halved, from nearly 10,000 in 2022 to around 6,000 in 2024.
The result is a less transient community.
Fewer people are moving here on a temporary basis, but those who have already settled are far less likely to leave.
“Many of those who came here to do odd jobs, learn English and then figure out what to do next have left,” said Bongarrà.
“Many City professionals have also left London, especially those who hadn’t yet started a family here.
“Today there are fewer waiters and fewer bankers, but more ‘ordinary’ people who have decided to settle here permanently.”
The most striking shift concerns students.
Before Brexit, Italian students paid the same fees as British students and had access to UK student loans.
Since leaving the European Union, they have been treated as international students, with much higher costs.
The result is clear from UCAS figures: enrolment has fallen from around 3,840 at its peak in 2019/20 to 1,560 in 2023/24, a drop of 59%.
For Matilde, a 26-year-old Italian student in London, the difference is very real.
She would like to stay after graduating, but obtaining a Skilled Worker Visa is no easy task.
“I’d love to build my future here,” she said. “But without an employer sponsor and a high enough salary, it’s almost impossible to stay. Many of my friends are thinking of moving elsewhere in Europe.
“I don’t think London has lost its appeal. But for many young Italians, it has become a calculated choice, no longer an easy first step abroad.”
The result is not the end of Italian migration to the UK, but a shift in its logic.
The old model arriving easily, looking for work, improving one’s English and deciding later, has become much more expensive and selective.
Bongarrà added: “London’s appeal still exists, but without a proper contract or a company willing to sponsor a visa, many young people are choosing other countries.”
The London that once seemed open and accessible to young Europeans has not disappeared. But for many young Italians today, it seems further away.
Feature Image Credit: Rocco Dipoppa
Join the discussion