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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.

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.

 

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