New data shows early impacts of UK immigration reforms on work and study visas

New data published by the Home Office this week shows the early effects of recent immigration reforms on the number of people applying for UK work and study visas.

To recap, the government is taking drastic steps to reduce net migration to the UK, which soared to a record high of 745,000 in 2022. To cut numbers, a package of significant changes have been introduced to the Immigration Rules affecting a number of routes including work, study and family visas.

The changes include increased salary requirements for Skilled Workers and those sponsoring a spouse or partner to come to the UK, replacing the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List, and tightening the rules on bringing dependants under certain routes.

To monitor the impact of these policy changes, the Home Office will publish statistics on entry clearance visa applications which will be updated on a monthly basis until the end of 2024. The latest monthly figures published on 30 April 2024 can be found here.

Although it is too early to accurately assess the full impact of the changes, the data published yesterday shows a significant reduction in the volume of entry clearance applications is already being observed in certain routes.

80% fall in student dependants

Government measures to tighten the immigration rules for student visas, which came into force in January, have prevented most international students starting courses this year from bringing family members, except for those on certain postgraduate research programmes.

Students can also no longer switch from a student visa to a work visa before completing their course, preventing people from using the route as a ‘backdoor’ to work in the UK.

As a result, the number of dependants accompanying students to the UK has drastically fallen by almost 80%, with more than 26,000 fewer student visa applications made from January to March 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Before we can see the full effect of recent policy changes and any other impacts, it will be necessary to wait until the peak in student applications for the next academic year, which usually comes in August / September.

The policy has been heavily criticised by the higher education sector, with experts warning the change could dampen the UK’s appeal as a study destination for international students, who contribute billions to the economy each year.

83% fall in Health and Care worker visa applications

The published figures reveal that in the first quarter of 2024, dependant applications on the Health and Care route continued to significantly outnumber main applicants.

The Home Office views the high number of dependants on the Health and Care Worker route as a cause for concern, and part of the five-point plan to reduce net migration includes banning care workers from bringing dependants with them under this route. Doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals remain able to bring dependants.

This policy has been in place since March 2024, meaning its full impact will be shown in future statistics.

However, it is already evident that the number of overseas care workers applying to work in the UK is plummeting, with the figures revealing an 83% decline in the number of Health and Care Worker visa applications in March, from 14,300 in 2023 to just 2,400 this year.

Migrants at Work, an organisation that supports migrant workers, has launched a legal challenge against the government’s decision to ban care workers from bringing partners and children to the UK, warning that the policy is “tearing families apart”.

However, the government argues that “immigration is not the long-term answer to our social care needs.”

Advice for sponsors

As the government continues to crack down on net migration by introducing tougher policies, sponsors of skilled workers and students should be aware of the need to remain compliant with the immigration rules.

The Home Office is ramping up its immigration enforcement activities to tackle illegal working and abuse of the visa system, and sponsors must be prepared.

Smith Stone Walters can assist your organisation with sponsorship compliance, right to work checks and more. To find out how we can help, please contact us today.