UK Visa Applications for Work and Study Drop by 36.3% in a Year.
The number of applications for UK work and student visas, including those from dependants, has decreased by 36.3% over the past year, according to VisaGuide.World.
In July 2024, the total number of applications for skilled workers, health and care workers, and sponsored study candidates stood at 91,300. This figure represents a decline from 143,400 applications recorded in July 2023.
The UK government has introduced new measures this year, including a ban on international students bringing dependants, an increase in immigration health charges, and a rise in the salary threshold for visa eligibility.
Significant Decrease in Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker Visas
In July 2024, only 6,000 main applicants submitted requests for the Skilled Workers Visa Scheme, marking a 7.69% decline from July 2023. In contrast, applications from dependants of these main applicants rose from 4,900 to 5,800, indicating an 18% increase.
However, applications for health and care worker visas have seen the most substantial drop, falling from 16,200 in July 2023 to just 2,900 in July 2024. This represents an 82% decrease, according to data from the UK Home Office.
Additionally, the number of dependant applications associated with health and care worker visas decreased sharply, from 21,600 in 2023 to 5,100 in July 2024— a reduction of 76.3%.
Nadra Ahmed, executive co-chairman of the National Care Association, stated in an interview with BBC that the sector is witnessing some staff returning home or relocating to other countries. “If we had a domestic workforce willing to work, then we wouldn’t need these international recruits,” she noted.
Reasons for the Decline in Visa Applications
The decline in visa applications has been evident since February 2024, when the government increased immigration health charges. Applications for health and care worker visas decreased from 3,100 to 2,900, reflecting a 6.4% drop.
In March 2024, the UK government implemented stricter rules for new care and senior workers, making them ineligible to bring dependants. This change resulted in dependant applications for health and care workers falling from 16,300 in February to 13,200 in March, a 19% decrease.
In April, the government raised the salary threshold and reformed the immigration salary list, further impacting applications. The number of health and care worker applications decreased from 2,400 to 2,200, while dependant applications plummeted from 13,200 to 6,400—a staggering 51% drop within a month.