The UK Home Office has released its visa issuance clearance report for March 2025, shedding light on key trends in work, study, and family visa categories. These figures reflect recent policy shifts and their impact on migration patterns.
Work Visas: Decline in Health and Care Applications
Health and Care Worker visa applications saw a significant drop. Between February 2022 and August 2023, applications surged from 4,100 to 18,300 due to care workers being added to the Shortage Occupation List. However, following policy changes restricting dependants for social care workers, applications plummeted to 2,400 in March 2024 and stabilized at 1,900 in January 2025 an 81% decrease year-on-year.
Skilled Worker visa applications remained steady at around 6,000 per month from January 2022 to March 2024, with a temporary spike to 10,100 in April 2024. In January 2025, applications stood at 4,000, marking a 10% decrease from the previous year.
Study Visas: A Sharp Decline in Dependants
There was an 84% drop in applications from dependants of student visa holders. In the year ending January 2025, only 21,500 dependant applications were recorded compared to the previous year. This decline follows the rule change in January 2024, which barred most students except postgraduates in research courses or government-funded scholars from bringing dependants.
Family Visas: Fluctuations Due to Policy Changes
Family visa applications spiked from 7,500 in December 2023 to 12,700 in April 2024, driven by anticipation of a new income requirement policy. However, applications dropped significantly afterward and aligned with 2023 levels in the latter half of the year. February 2025 recorded 6,600 applications, reflecting the impact of stricter financial thresholds.
Key Policy Changes Shaping the Trends
Several policy updates have played a role in shaping these trends. In January 2024, most international students lost the ability to bring dependants. In March 2024, dependants were banned for overseas social care workers. By April 2024, the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas was raised from £26,200 to £38,700. These measures aim to regulate migration levels and ensure economic sustainability.
