The number of British visas issued to foreign health workers and families of international students has sharply decreased due to new government policies aimed at reducing immigration. From July 2023 to June 2024, the UK granted 89,095 visas to health and care workers, which is a 26% reduction from the previous year. The decline was more dramatic between April and June, with an 81% drop in visas compared to the same period last year. The government introduced these measures to cut immigration by increasing salary requirements and limiting family visas for care workers. These actions are part of a larger plan to manage high levels of legal migration, a significant issue in British politics and a key factor in the Brexit referendum of 2016.

Experts are worried that these restrictions could worsen the current staff shortages in the social care sector, which is already struggling to find enough workers. Marley Morris from the Institute for Public Policy Research has called on the government to monitor the situation closely to prevent a more severe staffing crisis. The number of visas for foreign students at British universities dropped by 13% last year, with dependent visas falling by 81% in the first half of this year. Concerns about overstaying visas persist, despite the high global reputation of British universities. Recent polls indicate that immigration control is now a major concern for British voters.