The number of foreign nationals seeking work and study visas in the UK continues to fall. According to recent data, the number of entry clearance applications for Health and Care Worker, Skilled Worker, and Student visas has dropped significantly, from over 15,800 in October 2024 to only 11,300 in October 2025. This represents a 30% decrease from the same month last year, highlighting the continued decreasing trend seen over the past year.
Health and Care Worker Visa
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.
Monthly applications subsequently fell to 2,400 in March 2024, due to more scrutiny applied by the Home Office to employers in the health and social care sector.
Applications remained at a similar level until July 2025, when they dropped further. In October 2025, there were 600 applications.
Skilled Worker Visa
The monthly number of Skilled Worker visa applications from main applicants was broadly stable between June 2022 and March 2024 at around 6,000 applications per month.
Applications temporarily increased to 10,100 in April 2024, ahead of the spring 2024 policy changes, before returning to levels similar to previous months. Applications have gradually decreased since, with 2,400 applications in October 2025.
The recent fall in applications for both Health and Care Worker visas and Skilled Worker visas has followed policy changes that came into effect towards the end of July 2025.
Policy Changes
On 12 May 2025, the Home Office announced changes to immigration rules in the Restoring Control over the Immigration System white paper. The policy changes affecting Work visas came into effect on 22 July 2025.
The changes to Immigration Rules affecting ‘Skilled Worker’ and ‘Health and Care Worker’ visas were as follows:
Skill level requirement raised: To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, the job must now be at RQF level 6 or above, with exceptions for jobs which are on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List
Minimum Salary: Skilled Worker visas increased from £38,700 to £41,700; for Health and Care Worker visa, the salary threshold stayed the same at £25,000, ending overseas recruitment for care workers.
No new international applicants will be allowed to apply for care jobs in the UK under the current visa route; however, some people in care worker and senior care worker roles can continue to apply to switch visas in-country until July 2028.
Study Visas
Sponsored study visas follow seasonal patterns, peaking in August, ahead of the start of the academic year, with a second smaller peak in December.
The applications from sponsored study visa main applicants in the year ending October 2025 were 434,000, 7% higher than the year ending October 2024, but 13% lower than the year ending October 2023.
There were 22,400 applications from dependants of students in the year ending October 2025, 85% fewer than the year ending December 2023.
This followed the rule changes that came into effect in January 2024, which prevent most students from bringing dependants, other than those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.
