NET migration from EU countries to the UK has dropped to its lowest level in nearly six years according to new figures, which also showed that non-EU migration was at its highest since 2004.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed an estimated 74,000 more EU nationals came to live in the UK for at least 12 months than left in the year to June – the lowest since September 2012, when the figure was 65,000.

The ONS said 248,000 more non-EU citizens arrived than left and that overall, net long-term international migration was 273,000.

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This is down from record levels of around a third of a million two years ago, but still almost three times the Government’s target of less than 100,000.

National Records of Scotland figures showed that in the year to June, there were estimated to be 358,000 non-British nationals living in Scotland – 7% of the population and a similar level to 2017.

Of non-British nationals living in Scotland, 223,000 (62%) were EU nationals and 135,000 (38%) were non-EU nationals.

Jay Lindop, director of the ONS centre for international migration, said: “Net migration continues to add to the population and has remained fairly stable since its peak in 2016.

“Due to increasing numbers arriving for work and study, non-EU net migration is now at the highest level since 2004.”

He added: “In contrast, EU net migration, while still adding to the population as a whole, is at the lowest since 2012.”

Charities involved in migration criticised the figures, calling for a system that worked for everyone.

Satbir Singh, chief executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), said: “We’ve had eight years of toxic rhetoric and a hostile environment targeting anyone in this country who happened to be born elsewhere – and two years of complete uncertainty about this Government’s ability and willingness to protect rights after Brexit.

“But when a neighbour or a colleague or a friend says ‘enough now’ and leaves, we all lose out.

“Now is the time for new ideas and a new conversation, for a better, fairer immigration system that works for everyone.”

Director of Migrant Voice, Nazek Ramadan, said: “Faced with uncertainty and feeling no longer welcome, many EU nationals are choosing to leave. That may be a victory for those who want lower migration levels, but it’s a huge loss for our culture, our society, our economy and for a country that was built on immigration.

“Setting an arbitrary net migration target does not work, fails to take real people and real lives into account, and has a divisive impact on our society.”