The number of visa applications to work and study in the UK has dropped by nearly 400,000 after the introduction of stricter immigration policies aimed at reducing legal migration.
Provisional figures from the Home Office reveal that between April and December 2024, 547,000 applications were received, down from 942,500 during the same period in 2023. This represents a 42% decrease.
The government’s goal was to reduce the number of annual arrivals by 300,000, and the sharp fall in applications can be attributed to a significant decline in overseas students and foreign care workers applying for visas.
Key Restrictions Impacting Visa Applications
The decline follows restrictions introduced by the Conservative government between January and April 2024, including a ban on overseas care workers bringing family dependants and a raised salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700.
Further reforms also restricted overseas students from bringing their families to the UK and made it more challenging for Britons earning below the national average to sponsor foreign spouses.
Impact on Sectors and Industries
The changes have raised concerns about potential difficulties for universities and the care sector, which are expected to face challenges from reduced immigration.
Notably, visa applications for health and care workers have seen the steepest decline, dropping by 79%. In 2023, there were 299,800 applications in the same period, compared to just 63,800 in 2024.
The overall 42% decrease in visa applications for both primary applicants and dependents underscores the significant impact of the new migration policies on the UK’s visa landscape.
