UK Faces Significant Drop in Student and Work Visa Applications

New data from the British government reveals a noticeable decline in both student and work visa applications in 2024.

These drops are likely tied to recent policy changes aimed at reducing legal migration, a move that could have serious implications for the education and healthcare sectors. Industry leaders are now calling on the government to introduce more incentives to attract people to Britain.

For years, successive Conservative governments have tried to reduce overall migration, but their efforts met with mixed results. Earlier policies mainly targeted citizens of the European Union, who once enjoyed free movement before Brexit, as well as irregular migrants and asylum seekers.

Under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, migration became an increasingly urgent issue. In response, the government introduced several policy changes to curb numbers, particularly among those arriving on work and study visas. Key changes included barring international students and health care workers from bringing family members and raising minimum salary requirements for both ‘Skilled Worker' and spousal visa programs.

The impact of these changes is evident in the latest figures. Applications for both international student visas and Health and Care Worker visas have plummeted.

The number of student visa applications has fallen by 16% compared to last year, totaling 69,500. This sharp decline is a worrying sign for the university sector, which heavily depends on international students to maintain its financial stability. Most applications usually occur between July and September, so the full impact won’t be clear until later this year. However, industry experts are already sounding the alarm.

The healthcare sector is also feeling the effects of these policy changes. The number of Health and Care Worker visa applications surged nearly fourfold between early 2022 and August 2023. However, after the new restrictions on bringing family members took effect, applications plummeted. From April to July 2024, only 11,000 people applied for care worker visas—a staggering 81% decrease compared to the same period in 2023.

This decline is especially troubling for the care sector, which is already grappling with a severe labour shortage. Many care jobs offer low pay and poor conditions, making it difficult to attract and retain workers. The drop in visa applications is likely to worsen the situation, leaving many vulnerable Britons without the care they need.

Concerns are growing among observers in both the education and care sectors, who fear these visa declines could lead to long-term damage. They are urging the government to reconsider its policies and find ways to attract more international students and workers to the UK.

What to Expect from the UK's New Labour Government

Following the Labour Party’s victory in the general election, the new UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has outlined his government's plans for delivering change and fulfilling its promises to voters.

A key priority is to reduce the demand for visas by closely aligning skills policy with immigration policy. Employers and sectors that frequently request large numbers of work visas will be required to implement training programs to fill skill gaps with workers already in the UK.

While the party does not plan to formally cap any immigration routes, it has committed to placing appropriate restrictions on visas. The aim is to “end the long-term reliance on overseas workers in some parts of the economy” by focusing on the training and upskilling of settled workers.

Additionally, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently confirmed that the plan to increase the family visa income threshold from £29,000 to £38,700 has been suspended pending a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

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