Aim of this survey
TThe Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Survey collects financial information relating to direct investment abroad by enterprises located in the UK (outward FDI) and direct investment in the UK by enterprises located abroad (inward FDI). In either scenario, the foreign investment must be at least 10% of the ordinary shares or voting power. Data on investments less than 10%, which are classed as portfolio investments, are collected elsewhere within Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The data from these surveys are an important contribution to measures of international investment patterns between the UK and the rest of the world. You can view the latest figures in the publication of Foreign Direct Investment Involving UK Companies 2024. Outward FDI indicates which countries of the world are expected to be growth areas and where a company might wish to invest. Inward FDI data indicate which sectors of the economy are of interest to foreign competitors and where long-term growth is expected to be. These data also contribute to measures of cross-border transactions, such as direct investment flows and earnings for the UK balance of payments, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the main economic measure in the UK. These measures are important not only to UK businesses but also to Government policy makers, academics, and the press.
What you need to know
If you have been selected to complete the survey, you will need the following information:
- figures relating to profit and loss, equity ownership, retained earnings and capital transactions between the UK and its foreign parent companies
All information you provide is strictly confidential.
As part of our ongoing work to reduce the burden on businesses in completing mandatory ONS Business Surveys, we have reduced the number of questions asked within the Quarterly Outward Foreign Direct Investment Survey. This is because we are now able to collect data about regional and capital acquisition breakdowns from alternative administrative data sources.
Survey information
Selection criteria: the population samples are selected by stratified random sampling using previously returned international investment positions values (net book values)
Population: approximately 14,400
Sample: approximately 1,000
Frequency: quarterly
Dispatch dates
Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar): 27 March
Quarter 2 (Apr to June): 26 June
Quarter 3 (July to Sept): 25 September
Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec): 17 December
Return-by dates
Quarter 1: 17 April
Quarter 2: 17 July
Quarter 3: 16 October
Quarter 4: 15 January
Dispatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change because of national holidays and weekends.
Why you were selected
Your company is required to supply information to us as we believe it meets the selection criteria of the survey. That is, a UK company or group of companies that hold subsidiaries abroad where the UK company is the parent company.
New companies can be added to this survey as a direct result of international transactions that make them eligible for selection.
How to complete this survey
This survey is conducted via a Secure Electronic File Transfer (SEFT) spreadsheet. An example template is available in the “Related downloads” section on this page. There are guidelines explaining how to complete your return.
If you return the data in a different format, it will be returned to you to amend and re-submit.
Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return date.
If you need help
If your question is not answered above, you may be able to find the answer on the About ONS business surveys section.
You can call us on 0300 1234 931. Please enter the three-digit survey ID 065.
From outside the UK: +44 1633 816338.
Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh): 0300 1234 911.
Related downloads
- SEFT example template (1.7 MB xlsx)