Next update due: 12 September 2024
The application data in this publication provides statistics on the number of people seeking to enter the United Kingdom for work and study purposes.
On 4 December 2023, the Home Office announced changes to immigration rules and published further details on 21 December. These changes came into effect following updates published on 19 February and 14 March. Policy changes are one of several factors that can affect visa applications.
The statistics in this publication are provisional. Final figures will be published in the Home Office’s quarterly statistics publication on the immigration system.
1. Work visa
Figure 1: Monthly applications for visas for “skilled workers” and “health and care workers”, January 2022 to July 2024
Figure 1 shows that the monthly number of applications for health and care worker visas from principal applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023 after care workers were included in the skilled worker visa. Since August 2023, applications have declined, falling to 2,900 in July 2024.
During the period April to July 2024, there were 10,800 applications as a result of the policy changes affecting social care workers and their family members – a decrease of 81% compared to the same four months in 2023.
Applications for dependents under the Health and Care Worker program increased in parallel with the main applicants, peaking at 23,300 in August 2023. Since December 2023, applications for dependents have declined, falling to 5,100 in July 2024.
Between April and July 2024, there were 22,200 applications for relatives in the health and care sector – a decrease of 71% compared to the same 4 months in 2023.
In contrast, the monthly number of skilled worker visa applications from principal applicants remained broadly stable at around 6,000 applications per month between January 2022 and March 2024. Applications increased to 10,100 in April 2024 before falling back to 6,000 in July 2024.
Between April and July 2024, there were 28,600 applications for skilled worker visas – an increase of 23% compared to the same 4 months in 2023.
Applications from dependents under the Skilled Worker Program were broadly in line with the main applicants, peaking at 8,100 in January 2024, but falling to 5,800 in July 2024. Between April and July 2024, there were 23,400 applications, a 26% increase compared to the same 4 months in 2023.
2. Study visa
The monthly number of applications for sponsored study visas from lead applicants peaks between July and September before the start of the academic year. We need to observe this peak in student applications in the autumn before we can assess the full extent of the changes this year.
The data in Figure 2 show that the number of applications from main applicants in the period January to July 2024 (156,800) was 16% lower than in the period January to July 2023.
Between January and July 2024, there were 13,100 applications from family members of students, 81% fewer than between January and July 2023. This is due to rule changes that came into force in January 2024, which prohibit students from bringing family members, with the exception of postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
3. Policy changes
The changes to immigration rules for the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Sponsored Trial and Partner visas are as follows:
- From 1 January 2024, international students were no longer able to bring family members, except in postgraduate research courses and courses with government-funded scholarships
- From 11 March 2024, social workers arriving from abroad will no longer be allowed to bring dependents (ie partners and children) with them on their visa
- From 4 April 2024, the general basic salary sponsored for a Skilled Worker visa has increased from £26,200 to £38,700, while the minimum salary applicable to each job has also increased significantly.
- The list of occupations for which it is possible to sponsor someone on a “skilled worker” visa with a reduced minimum salary has been shortened and renamed the “immigrant salary list”.
- From 11 April 2024, the minimum income normally required to sponsor someone for a spouse/partner visa has been increased from £18,600 to £29,000
4. Data table
Data on monthly applications for the Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker and Sponsored Study visas can be found in the table below: