United Kingdom, UK work visa approvals have nosedived by 39% in the year 2024, ending March 2025.
Official figures from the UK’s Home Office reveal the sharp decline in work-related visas, with health and care worker visas taking the hardest hit, dropping by 81%.
The figures revealed that the UK issued 192,000 work visas to main applicants across all categories, representing a 39% drop compared to 2023, though still 40% higher than in 2019, before COVID-19.
On the other hand, the health and care sector saw visa approvals for only 27,174 individuals.
This is down from 143,900 visa approvals recorded in 2023.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the drop in UK work visa approvals is an indication of the sweeping changes in the immigration policy, including restrictions on dependents and changes to the Health and Care Worker route.
Also, temporary Worker visa approvals declined slightly, with 75,000 issued in 2024, 6% fewer than the previous year. While new visa approvals declined in 2024, the number of visa extensions rose sharply.
Many graduates and skilled workers chose to extend their stay rather than leave the UK workforce.
A record 434,000 work visa extensions were granted, seven times more than in 2019, mainly driven by those on Graduate, Health and Care Worker, and Skilled Worker visas.
International student numbers saw a modest decline, with 403,000 study visas issued in the year ending March 2025, a 10% drop from the previous year.
However, the biggest impact was on the dependents of students. Only 18,000 dependent visas were granted, marking an 83% decrease due to new rules barring most students from bringing family members.
The official data has revealed that this change affected thousands of families.
Family-related visa trends were mixed. A total of 76,000 family visas were issued, representing a 3% decline from the previous year.
Partner visas fell by 17%, indicating a drop in spousal migration. In contrast, Refugee Family Reunion visas surged to 21,000 from 12,000, a record high since 2005, reflecting an increase in refugee recognition.
Despite the fall in new visa grants, more migrants transitioned to permanent residency and citizenship. In 2024, 173,000 people were granted settlement in the UK, a 33% increase from the previous year.
The Skilled Worker route was the largest contributor, accounting for 37% of all settlement grants, up by 54%.
