The policy changes, introduced in December 2023, particularly impacted international students, limiting their ability to bring dependents unless enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarship programs. This move is part of a broader government effort to curb immigration, which reached a record high of 1.22 million last year.
The education sector has felt the brunt of these restrictions. Between January and July 2024, study visa applications dropped by 16% compared to the same period in 2023, while visa applications from the dependents of students saw a dramatic 81% decline.
The healthcare sector has also been severely affected, with Health and Care Worker visa applications plummeting by 80% during the same period. After a surge in applications following the inclusion of care workers in the skilled worker visa category in 2022, the trend reversed after August 2023, with applications falling to just 2,900 in July 2024.
Nadra Ahmed, Executive Co-Chairman of the National Care Association, expressed concern over the situation, noting that many healthcare workers are now choosing to relocate to countries with less restrictive immigration policies.
Despite these challenges, the UK government remains committed to controlling immigration while focusing on developing a “homegrown workforce” to address the nation’s skilled worker shortage.
