Explore the current trends in UK work and study visas and understand what recent changes in Immigration Rules mean for applicants.
Official government statistics show that the number of foreign nationals applying to come to the UK on work and study visas continues to decrease.
This trend is directly linked to changes made to the Immigration Rules over the past two years which aim to significantly reduce net migration.
The latest published figures show that entry clearance applications filed for Health and Care Worker, Skilled Worker or Student visas decreased from approximately 129,300 in August 2024 to 124,400 in August 2025. Whilst this represents a modest decline over the last year, the overall downward trend is still evident – especially when compared to August 2023, which saw these figures climb to 172,200.
Applications for Skilled Worker visas remained relatively stable between June 2022 and March 2024 at around 6,000 applications per month. There was a temporary spike to 10,100 applications in April 2024, ahead of policy changes, but numbers have since declined. In August 2025, the number of applications filed amounted to just 3,400.
Between May and August 2025, there were 15,700 applications for Skilled Worker visas—down from 23,600 during the same four month period in 2024.
Applications from dependants on this route followed a similar trend, with 17,400 applications filed during the same period this year—a decrease of 18% compared to 2024.
Recent rule changes have most certainly impacted these figures. To qualify under this category, jobs must now be at RQF level 6 or above, with some exceptions for roles on the Immigration Salary List or Shortage List.
In addition, the minimum salary requirement for the Skilled Worker route has been increased from £38,700 to £41,700.
The Health and Care Worker route was first introduced in August 2020 as part of the UK’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system. In February 2022, care workers and home carers were made eligible for the visa in a bid to fill chronic labour shortages in the adult social care sector.
Following this change, application numbers surged. However, after the rules were subsequently tightened to prevent new international applicants applying for care jobs in the UK under the current visa route, there has since been a sharp decline in the number of people now applying under this category.
This resulted in just 900 applications being filed for Health and Care Worker visas in August of this year. In contrast, two years ago (August 2023), the number of entry clearance applications filed under this category peaked at 18,300.
Additionally, during the first eight months of this year, there were 32,800 dependant applications received under this route. Whilst still a significant number, this represents a 57% decrease compared to the same eight months in 2024. This decline is largely due to the policy change introduced in March 2024, which stopped overseas social care workers from being accompanied by their dependants (partners and children).
In January 2024, new rules were introduced to prevent international students on sponsored study visas from bringing dependant family members with them to the UK. The only exception is for those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
Since these changes, the number of main applicant student visa applications filed in August 2025 (120,100) remained stable compared to August 2024 (121,900). Predictably, the number of dependants under this category has fallen sharply—from 93,200 applications in the first eight months of 2023 to just 14,700 in the same period this year.
Looking Ahead: Continued Decline in Visa Numbers
The current government continues to prioritise stronger immigration controls, focusing on reducing overall migration and investing more in skills and training within the UK. Based on official data and trends, it’s likely that total immigration will therefore continue to decline, though perhaps at a slower pace.
The University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory had previously estimated that net migration could fall to around 350,000 by 2030. Their projection considered increased departures, fewer overseas students arriving, and a fall in private sector vacancies. However, the biggest push/pull factor in this equation continues to sit with the government’s immigration policy makers.
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*The statistics in the Home Office release are provisional. Final numbers will be published in the quarterly Home Office Immigration system statistics.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact our team at T & M Legis for a consultation with our Legal Experts.
