David Cameron is to promise the UK will reduce the level of immigration to "1980s' levels" as a result of government measures.
But in a speech later, the prime minister will also say the country will "always be open to the best and brightest from around the world".
He will argue the government has a "sober, comprehensive and effective plan to cut immigration".
Labour accused ministers of "not delivering" on immigration.
Ministers have introduced tighter caps on the number of non-EU migrants, saying the government wants to cut the overall limit from about 200,000 to "tens of thousands" by 2015.
This is being split into monthly allocations, with a total of 4,200 available for April and 1,500 each month after that.
