The United Kingdom has experienced a significant decline in visa applications, dropping from 141,000 to 91,000—a reduction of approximately 35.46%—since the government introduced new immigration policies in December 2023. The changes, which took effect in January 2024, aimed to curb immigration following a record high of 1.22 million in the previous year.
One of the key policies implemented was the restriction on international students bringing dependants, with exceptions only for those enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarships. According to Home Office statistics, this led to a 16% decrease in study visa applications between January and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
The impact of these policies has been particularly severe for student dependants, with visa applications for this group plummeting by 81% over the same timeframe. Additionally, the health and care sector has seen a dramatic 80% decline in visa applications for Health and Care Worker visas, a stark contrast to the surge in applications following the inclusion of care workers in the skilled worker visa category in 2022.
Nadra Ahmed, Executive Co-Chairman of the National Care Association, voiced concerns over the drop in healthcare worker visas, noting, “Many healthcare professionals are now choosing to relocate to countries with less restrictive immigration policies.”
Despite these challenges, the UK government remains resolute in its efforts to control immigration. A government spokesperson stated, “Our focus is on developing a homegrown workforce to address the nation’s shortage of skilled workers.”
The education and healthcare sectors, however, continue to grapple with the fallout from these immigration restrictions, as they adjust to the new realities of a tightened visa regim
