Overview

• The number of health and care visas issued in 2023 exceeded five times the amount in 2021, with a significant portion granted to care workers.
• New regulations will prevent care workers from bringing family members to the UK, potentially making the country less attractive to them.
• The UK's work visa system is increasingly dominated by the public sector, with health and care visas comprising 75% of all long-term skilled worker visa grants.
• The total number of work visas issued in 2023 was 616,371, marking a significant increase from previous years and highlighting the importance of immigration to the economy.
• Slow progress on asylum reform continues, with a backlog of applications and thousands still housed in hotels, despite promises to address these issues.