The United Kingdom has seen a dramatic drop in the number of visas granted to foreign health and care workers, as well as family members of international students, following measures introduced by the previous Conservative government to curb net migration. This policy shift has sparked concerns about potential staffing crises in critical sectors like healthcare and social care, which have long relied on foreign workers to fill gaps.
In the year ending June 2024, the UK issued 89,095 visas to foreign health and care workers—a significant 26 per cent decrease compared to the same period the previous year. The most drastic decline occurred between April and June 2024, with an 81 per cent year-on-year drop in visas granted to these workers.
This decline is attributed to stricter visa rules, including higher salary thresholds and new restrictions on care workers bringing family members to the UK.
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The decision to cut down on these visas was part of a broader strategy by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to reduce legal migration, which has been a contentious issue in British politics, especially since the Brexit referendum in 2016. Sunak’s government argued that reducing the number of foreign workers and students was necessary to manage public concerns over high immigration levels.
The sharp reduction in health and care worker visas has raised alarms within the sector, which is already grappling with severe staffing shortages. Marley Morris, Associate Director for Migration, Trade, and Communities at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), warned that these restrictions could further exacerbate recruitment challenges.
“The social care sector is still struggling with recruitment, and the government will need to monitor the situation closely to avoid a further staffing crisis,” Morris stated.
Decline in Student and Dependant Visas
The tightening of immigration rules has also significantly impacted international students and their families. The total number of visas issued to foreign students fell by 13 per cent year-on-year, with 432,225 visas granted in the year ending June 2024. More strikingly, visas for dependants of overseas students plummeted by 81 per cent in the first six months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with only 11,675 visas issued.
While Britain continues to host some of the world’s most prestigious universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial College London, concerns have emerged that these new visa restrictions might deter international students. Business leaders have long argued that foreign students contribute to the UK’s innovation and creativity, providing a form of soft power that benefits the country.
However, some ministers in the previous government expressed concerns that certain students and their dependants were exploiting the system by applying for visas and then overstaying or seeking asylum. This perception, combined with a surge in far-right sentiments, has contributed to immigration control becoming the most pressing issue for British voters for the first time in eight years.
As the UK continues to grapple with the challenges of managing immigration, the impact of these visa restrictions on the healthcare and education sectors remains a critical issue. With immigration now at the forefront of public debate, the balance between controlling migration and supporting essential services will likely remain a contentious topic in the years to come.