The number of migrants applying for UK visas has decreased by more than a third in the last year. According to the most recent British government data, in the fiscal year ending March 2025, 772,200 persons applied for visas in all major categories, a 37% decrease from nearly 1.24 million the previous year. This is largely the effect of new UK immigration rules introduced to reduce net migration in the country.
“A decline in the number of UK work visa applicants added to a shortfall in the number of visas allocated in key economic growth roles means the time has never been better to apply for a British work visa,” says Yash Dubal, director of A Y & J Solicitors.
“At the same time, UK Home Office data shows that fewer than 181,000 visas out of a total of about 560,000 were allocated to foreign workers. The Skilled Worker visa is the best option for most migrant workers. There is no limit to the number of Skilled Worker visas that the UK government can issue,” adds Dubal.
Also, fewer international students are opting for the UK as a study abroad destination. The recent data shows that applications from Sponsored study visa main applicants in the year ending March 2025 were 417,000, which is 11% lower than the year ending March 2024.
Sponsored study visas follow strong seasonal patterns, peaking in August each year, ahead of the academic year, with a second smaller peak in December.
The applications from dependants of students also showed a falling trend. There were 20,100 applications from dependants of students in the year ending March 2025, 86% fewer than the year ending December 2023.
This followed the rule changes that came into effect in January 2024, which prevent students from bringing dependants, apart from those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
Under the Skilled work routes data shows that the monthly number of Health and Care Worker visa applications from main applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023, following the addition of care workers to the Shortage Occupation List.
However, monthly applications subsequently fell to 2,400 in March 2024 and have remained broadly stable since. There were 1,700 applications in March 2025.
Monthly applications for dependants on the Health and Care Worker route increased in-line with main applicants, peaking at 23,300 in August 2023. Applications for dependants decreased sharply between December 2023 and April 2024, and have continued to fall since, albeit at a slower rate. There were 3,900 applications in March 2025.
In contrast, the monthly number of Skilled Worker visa applications from main applicants were broadly stable between January 2022 and March 2024 at around 6,000 applications per month. Applications temporarily increased to 10,100 in April 2024, before returning to average levels in the following month and have gradually decreased since. There were 3,400 applications in March 2025.
Applications for dependants on the Skilled Worker route have largely followed the trend for main applicants. There were 3,800 applications in March 2025.