UK Sees Sharp Decline in Visa Applications Following Conservative Policies

New restrictions on student and healthcare worker visas lead to significant drops in applications, raising concerns for education and care sectors.

Applications for health and care worker visas fell by 82% in July 2024 compared to the previous year.
Student visa applications declined by 16% in the first half of 2024, with dependent applications down by 81%.
Conservative measures under Rishi Sunak included banning dependents and raising salary thresholds for visas.
Labour maintains some of these restrictions but faces criticism over potential impacts on workforce shortages.
Experts warn of financial strains on universities and recruitment challenges in health and social care sectors.