The number of visas granted to foreign nationals entering the UK for work, study, family, or humanitarian purposes has witnessed a dramatic fall, according to new Home Office data. In the year leading up to June 2025, only 834,977 entry visas were approved — a staggering 32% drop from 1.23 million the previous year. This marks the lowest figure since September 2021, when totals stood at 802,415.
The biggest hit came from work-related visas, which almost halved — plunging 48% from 545,855 to 286,071. Study visas also dipped 18%, while family visas declined 15%. Humanitarian categories were not spared, with visas under the Ukraine schemes and Hong Kong BN(O) route both down by nearly half.
The sharp fall is linked to migration policies introduced by the former Conservative government, including restrictions on international students bringing dependants and a ban on overseas care workers relocating with family. Notably, visas for health and care workers plummeted 77%, while student dependant visas recorded the steepest fall — down 81%.
Experts say migration had peaked at record highs before the restrictions, and the numbers may continue to decline further. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper insists the Government is determined to “bring legal migration back under control” with tighter visa controls and higher skill requirements.
