The United Kingdom’s latest immigration policy changes have caused a sharp drop in visa applications from Indian nationals, with certain categories nearly collapsing. Once the single largest source of migrants to the UK, India has been hit hardest by tougher eligibility rules, higher salary thresholds, and restrictions on dependants.
Here’s a comprehensive look at how the new rules have reshaped UK visa trends for workers, students, and dependants.
Key Declines in Indian Visa Applications
- Skilled Worker visas ↓ 18% (as of July 2025)
- Health & Care Worker visas ↓ 93% (since August 2023 peak)
- Dependants of Health & Care Workers ↓ 79% by July 2025
- Sponsored study visas (main applicants) ↓ 3% year ending July 2025
- Student dependants ↓ 86% since Dec 2023
- Youth Mobility Scheme ↓ 10% year ending July 2025
Skilled Worker Visas: Applications Fall
Indian nationals—previously one of the largest Skilled Worker groups—saw notable declines:
- Monthly applications averaged 6,000 in 2024, but slipped to 4,900 in July 2025, an 18% fall.
- Dependants followed a similar trend, with 5,300 applications in July 2025.
- Across all nationalities, Skilled Worker applications peaked at over 10,000 in April 2024 before steadily declining.
Health and Care Worker Visas: A Near Collapse
The UK’s Health & Care Worker visa route has seen the most dramatic drop:
- Indian main applicants fell from 18,300 in August 2023 to only 1,300 in July 2025 – a 93% collapse.
- Indian dependants dropped from 23,300 to 4,900 (–79%) over the same period.
- Overall, this route declined sharply after new compliance checks and stricter rules from Spring 2024.
Indian Students and Study Visas
The new rules banning most student dependants (effective January 2024) have reshaped migration patterns for Indian students:
- Sponsored study visas for Indian main applicants stood at 428,900 in the year ending July 2025, about 3% lower than the previous year.
- Indian student dependants plummeted 86%, falling from 143,600 in December 2023 to just 20,200 by July 2025.
Globally, sponsored study visa demand also dipped slightly (–3%), but India felt the sharper impact due to dependant restrictions.
Family Visas: A Mixed Trend
- Across all nationalities, family visa applications initially jumped when higher income thresholds were announced in December 2023, rising from 7,500 to 12,700 by April 2024.
- After the rules took effect, applications fell to 5,100 in June 2024, but later recovered to 8,100 by July 2025.
- For Indian applicants, the pattern mirrored global trends—showing more cautious but steady interest in family reunification.
Temporary Work Routes
- Youth Mobility Scheme (including India Young Professionals Scheme) → Applications dropped 10% to 22,200 by July 2025.
- Seasonal Worker visas → Rose 9% to 38,600 over the year, though capped at 30,000–40,000 annually.
Tougher Immigration Rules in 2025
The UK government introduced further restrictions under its Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (July 22, 2025)—particularly targeting the Skilled Worker route:
- Skill level requirement: Jobs must now be at RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree) unless on specific shortage lists.
- Salary thresholds:
- Skilled Workers → Raised from £38,700 to £41,700.
- Health and Care Workers → Remains at £25,000.
- Care Workers: Overseas recruitment for new applicants has ended. Only those already in the UK care sector can continue switching visas until July 2028.
Final Thoughts
The UK’s latest visa crackdown has delivered a major blow to Indian workers and students, sectors that had previously dominated migrant numbers. With an 18% fall in Skilled Worker visas and a 93% collapse in care visas, it’s clear the government’s policies are reshaping migration flows.
For Indian students, the tougher rules on dependants have also led to a dramatic decline, while higher salary thresholds are making professional migration more selective.
Travelers and applicants should carefully review the latest visa eligibility criteria, income requirements, and dependant restrictions before making plans to study, work, or settle in the UK.
