UK visas: Applications from abroad drop 43% as fast-track AI work permits proposed
The number of people applying for visas to work and study in the UK fell by nearly 400,000
Nearly 400,000 fewer people from abroad have applied for UK work or study visas since strict new immigration rules came into force, Home Office figures revealed on Thursday.
Provisional data shows 547,000 visa applications were received between April and December 2024, down from 942,500 in the same period in 2023.
The drop of 395,100, or 42 per cent, has been driven by sharp falls in the number of overseas students and foreign care workers applying to come to Britain.
Applications to come on a health and care worker visa fell by a much steeper 79 per cent, from 299,800 in April to December 2023 compared with 63,800 in the same period last year.
Last year the former Conservative government implemented a string of new visa restrictions amid pressure to cut record legal immigration to the UK and slash arrivals by 300,000 a year.
They included a ban on overseas care workers bringing family members with them in March and a hiking the salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700 in April.
The social care sector previously hit out at the potential ramifications of the dependants ban, branding it “brutal”.
It comes as the Prime Minister is set to unveil Britain’s AI Opportunities Action Plan next week, which is expected to contain a recommendation for fast-tracking the visa process for those with AI skills.
The proposal, written by tech entrepreneur Matt Clifford, is aimed at boosting Britain’s AI sector.
Share on:
Recent Articles
Recent Articles
Breaking: US Department of Homeland Security publishes rule to end Duration of Status for international students
Breaking: US Department of Homeland Security publishes rule to end Duration of Status for international students As expected by US international education experts, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has
England to push on with international student levy despite sector’s concerns
England to push on with international student levy despite sector’s concerns The UK government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce a levy on the international student fee income of
Economic impact on Scotland as overseas student numbers fall
Economic impact on Scotland as overseas student numbers fall A decline in the number of foreign students coming to the UK has cost the economy close to £3bn according to
Japan moves to enforce language requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency
Japan moves to enforce language requirements for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency TOKYO Japan is moving forward with plans to establish more formal guidelines for foreign nationals seeking permanent residency
Find out which university degrees could earn you most across your lifetime
Find out which university degrees could earn you most across your lifetime Although a university degree is widely understood to lead to better earnings over a lifetime, new research suggests
Immigration minister says Canada is ‘not finalizing any new’ citizenship-by-descent applications, reviewing all files
Immigration minister says Canada is ‘not finalizing any new’ citizenship-by-descent applications, reviewing all files On Tuesday, June 23, Immigration Minister Lena Diab confirmed that Canada has halted decisions on citizenship by