Net immigration has risen to 244,000 a year in a reminder of the scale of the task facing the government to curb numbers.
The net flow to the UK in the year to September was up from 230,000 in the 12 months to June.
The increase was driven mainly by a rise in arrivals from outside the EU, with immigration from the bloc slipping sharply, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Net migration from the EU was 90,000 in the year ending September 2017 – the first time it has fallen below 100,000 since 2013.
The net figure from the rest of the world was 205,000, up from 173,000 in the year to June.
The net flow to the UK in the year to September was up from 230,000 in the 12 months to June
The overall rate is still more than double the government’s targets of below 100,000 a year.
Some 90,000 more EU migrants arrived in Britain than left in the year to September 2017.
That marks the first time net migration from the bloc has dipped below six figures since the year to march 2013, when it was 95,000.
The last time the measure was lower was in 2012, when it was 82,000.
ONS statistician Nicola White said: ‘Today’s figures show that 244,000 more people are coming to the UK than leaving so net migration is adding to the UK population and is at a similar level to early 2014.
‘Looking at the underlying numbers we can see that EU net migration has fallen as fewer EU citizens are arriving, especially those coming to look for work in the UK, and the number leaving has risen. It has now returned to the level seen in 2012.
‘The figures also show that non-EU net migration is now larger than EU net migration, mainly due to the large decrease in EU net migration over the last year. However, migration of both non-EU and EU citizens are still adding to the UK population.
‘Brexit could well be a factor in people’s decision to move to or from the UK, but people’s decision to migrate is complicated and can be influenced by lots of different reasons.’
The Prime Minister has pledged to make curbing free movement a red line in Brexit negotiations.
Net migration is down from a record high of 336,000 in the 12 months before the historic vote to leave the EU.
Net migration from the EU was 90,000 in the year ending September 2017 – the first time it has fallen below 100,000 since 2013
Theresa May, pictured yesterday at PMQs, has made ending free movement a red line in Brexit negotiations with the EU
The scale of the inflows from the bloc was seen as one of the main factors in the decision taken by the UK public.
The year to June 2017 saw the largest decrease in net long-term migration in any 12-month period since records began in 1964.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said: ‘We are committed to controlled and sustainable migration – bringing net migration down to the tens of thousands.
‘This means an immigration system that attracts and retains people who come to work and bring significant benefits to the UK but does not offer an open door to those who don’t.
‘Net migration remains 29,000 lower than it was a year ago and once we leave the EU we will be able to put in place an immigration system which works in the best interest of the whole of the UK.
‘At the same time, we have been clear that we want EU citizens already living here to have certainty about their future and the citizens’ rights agreement reached in December provided that.’