Recent changes to the United Kingdom’s immigration policies have had a major impact on Indian workers and students, with some visa categories recording dramatic declines. India, which has been one of the largest contributors of applicants, has been hit harder than most other nationalities.

The Numbers at a Glance
  • Skilled Worker visas: Down 18% by July 2025
  • Health and Care Worker visas: Down 93% since August 2023
  • Dependants of Health and Care Workers: Down 79% by July 2025
  • Sponsored study visas (main applicants): Down 3% year-on-year
  • Student dependants: Down 86% since December 2023
  • Youth Mobility Program: 10% decrease in July 2025
    • Skilled Worker Visas

    Indian professionals applying for Skilled Worker visas have declined steadily. Monthly applications that once averaged 6,000 until 2024 slipped to 4,900 in July 2025 an 18% fall.

    The same slowdown was seen across all countries. After peaking at 10,100 applications in April 2024, total Skilled Worker visas dropped to around 4,900 by mid-2025. Dependants of Indian applicants mirrored this trend, reaching 5,300 in July 2025.

    Health and Care Worker Visas

    The sharpest decline has been in the care sector.

  • Indian applications peaked at 18,300 in August 2023 but collapsed to just 1,300 in July 2025 a 93% drop.
  • Dependants also fell from 23,300 to 4,900, a decline of nearly 79%.

    • This downturn reflects wider changes. Across all nationalities, care-related visas rose strongly up to mid-2023 but collapsed after new compliance checks and restrictions introduced in 2024.

    Indian Students and Study Visas

    The rules introduced in January 2024 restricting student dependants have reshaped the landscape for education visas.

  • Sponsored study visa applications from Indian students fell slightly to 428,900 by July 2025, down 3% year-on-year.
  • However, dependents saw a dramatic fall of 86%, dropping from 143,600 at the end of 2023 to just 20,200 by July 2025.

    • Globally, sponsored study visas dipped by 3%, but the restrictions on dependants meant Indian applicants felt the sharpest decline.

    Family Visas

    Family visa numbers rose temporarily in early 2024 as applicants tried to beat income threshold changes. After dropping mid-year, applications gradually recovered. For Indian nationals, the same trend was observed, though July 2025 figures remained lower than April 2024 peaks.

    Temporary Work Routes

    Temporary visa categories showed mixed results:

    Applications for India’s Young Professionals Scheme were among the 10% annual decline in the Youth Mobility Scheme.

    Seasonal Worker visas increased by 9% to 38,600, although numbers remain capped by government quotas.

    New Immigration Rules

    The UK government announced more restrictions as part of its Statement of Changes on July 22, 2025.

    Key updates include:

    Skill requirements: Jobs must now be at RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree), unless listed on shortage schemes.

    Salary thresholds: Minimum pay for Skilled Worker visas has risen from £38,700 to £41,700. Health and Care Workers remain at £25,000.

    Care workers: Overseas recruitment has ended for new applicants. Until July 2028, those who are currently in the UK are permitted to stay and change their visas.

    Final Word

    The policy changes have reshaped migration from India to the UK, especially in the health and care sector. While student numbers remain relatively stable, restrictions on dependants and higher thresholds for workers have significantly reduced applications. For now, the UK appears to be narrowing its immigration channels, with India facing some of the steepest declines.

    Check country-specific visa requirements and recent changes at Visabud