Health and Care Sector Hit Hardest by UK’s New Immigration Policies

UK Work Visa Applications Plummet in 2024:

In 2024, the United Kingdom witnessed a seismic shift in its immigration landscape, with work visa applications dropping by 39% and health and care worker visa approvals plummeting by an astonishing 85%. These dramatic declines are a direct result of stricter immigration policies introduced by the previous Conservative government and largely upheld by the Labour government that took office in July 2024. This blog post delves into the reasons behind these declines, their impact on key sectors, and the broader implications for the UK’s economy and society, while critically examining the policies driving these changes.

A Sharp Decline in Work Visa Applications

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Home Office data, the UK granted 192,000 work visas to main applicants in 2024, a 39% decrease from the previous year. This marks a significant reversal from the post-Brexit surge in work-related immigration, which saw net migration peak at 906,000 in the year to June 2023. By the year to June 2024, net migration had already fallen to 728,000, a 20% drop, with further declines projected for 2025. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) estimates net migration could halve to 200,000 by next year, driven by a weakening job market and tightened visa regulations.

The decline in work visa applications is not uniform across all categories. While skilled worker visas saw a relatively modest 3% drop (from 96,600 in 2023 to 93,800 in 2024), the health and care worker visa category experienced a catastrophic 85% reduction, with only 23,000 visas granted in 2024 compared to a peak of 299,800 in 2023. This stark contrast highlights the targeted impact of new immigration rules on specific sectors, particularly health and social care.

Health and Care Worker Visas: A Sector in Crisis

The health and care sector, a cornerstone of the UK’s welfare system, has been disproportionately affected by the new immigration policies. Between April and September 2024, health and care worker visa applications fell by 83% compared to the same period in 2023, dropping from a monthly peak of 18,300 in August 2023 to just 2,100 by September 2024. This decline is attributed to several key policy changes:

1. Ban on Dependants: From March 11, 2024, social care workers were prohibited from bringing dependants (partners and children) to the UK. This restriction led to a 74% drop in dependant applications, with only 30,600 submitted between April and September 2024. The inability to bring family members has deterred many potential applicants, particularly from countries like India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ghana, which previously accounted for a significant portion of health and care visa recipients.
2. Closure of the Health and Care Worker Visa Route: The 2025 Immigration White Paper announced the closure of the health and care worker visa route to new overseas applicants, effective from 2025, with a transitional period until 2028 for those already in the UK. This decision reflects the government’s view that the sector has become overly reliant on low-paid overseas labor, with 75% of health and care visas in 2024 issued to dependants rather than main applicants. The government argues that persistent shortages in social care are due to poor pay and conditions rather than a lack of domestic labor, a claim that has sparked debate among sector leaders.
3. Stricter Sponsorship Requirements: From April 2024, only Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered providers in England can sponsor care workers, and employers must demonstrate efforts to recruit domestically before sponsoring overseas workers. This has added bureaucratic hurdles, further discouraging applications.

The impact on the health and care sector is already palpable. Social care organizations have warned of “brutal” workforce shortages, with care homes and hospitals struggling to fill vacancies. The 90% drop in care worker visa grants (from 45,071 in Q3 2023 to 6,564 in Q2 2024) has exacerbated existing recruitment challenges, particularly as the sector already faces high turnover due to low wages and demanding conditions. Critics argue that the government’s push to prioritize domestic workers overlooks the time required to train and attract local talent, leaving vulnerable populations at risk of reduced care quality.

Skilled Worker Visas: A Mixed Picture

In contrast to the health and care sector, the skilled worker visa category has shown more resilience. Applications for skilled worker visas increased by 6% between April and September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with 37,900 applications recorded. However, this figure masks a temporary spike in April 2024 (10,100 applications) before the new salary threshold of £38,700 took effect, followed by a 58% drop to 4,200 applications by September 2024.

The key policy change affecting skilled worker visas is the significant increase in the minimum salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700, effective April 4, 2024. This 50% hike has made it harder for employers to sponsor workers in lower-paying roles, particularly in sectors like hospitality and retail. The abolition of the shortage occupation list, replaced by a more restrictive Immigration Salary List (ISL), has further limited options for employers seeking to fill roles with lower salary thresholds. While certain occupations, such as those in health and education, are exempt from the £38,700 threshold, the overall effect has been to narrow the pool of eligible applicants.

Interestingly, the number of dependants on skilled worker visas rose by 14% in 2024, suggesting that those who qualify under the new rules are more likely to bring family members. This resilience in the skilled worker category reflects the government’s focus on attracting “high-skilled” migrants, as articulated in the 2025 Immigration White Paper, which emphasizes a “controlled, selective, and fair” immigration system.

Broader Implications for the UK

The sharp decline in work visa applications has far-reaching consequences for the UK’s economy and society:

1. Economic Impact: The health and care sector’s reliance on migrant workers has been a critical factor in maintaining service levels, particularly post-pandemic. The 85% drop in visa approvals threatens to deepen staffing shortages, potentially compromising care for the elderly and vulnerable. Similarly, the reduction in international students, whose visa applications fell by 14% in 2024, poses financial challenges for universities, which depend on international tuition fees to offset frozen domestic fees.
2. Demographic Shifts: The decline in visa grants has disproportionately affected non-EU nationals, particularly from India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, while applications from China have increased. This shift reflects changing migration patterns, with Indian students remaining the largest group of non-EU enrollees at UK universities (26% in 2022–23). The ban on dependants has also reduced family migration, potentially altering the demographic makeup of migrant communities.
3. Policy Critique: The government’s rationale for stricter rules—reducing net migration and prioritizing domestic workers—has been met with skepticism. Critics argue that the policies fail to address structural issues, such as low wages in social care and housing shortages, which deter domestic workers. The Migration Observatory notes that the “boom and bust” cycle in visa grants (from a post-Brexit surge to a sharp decline) reflects poorly planned policy shifts, creating uncertainty for employers and migrants alike.
4. Social and Political Ramifications: Public pressure to reduce immigration, fueled by net migration peaks in 2022 and 2023, has driven these reforms. However, the Labour government’s decision to maintain most of the Conservative’s policies, while reviewing the family visa income threshold, suggests a delicate balancing act between public sentiment and economic needs. The proposed increase in the family visa income threshold from £29,000 to £38,700 by 2026 has been paused pending a MAC review, reflecting concerns about family separation.

Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The 2025 Immigration White Paper outlines further reforms, including a longer qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (from 5 to 10 years) and stricter English language requirements for dependants. These changes aim to ensure that migrants integrate quickly and contribute to the economy, but they also raise the bar for entry, potentially deterring skilled workers and students.

For the health and care sector, the government’s push for a Fair Pay Agreement and domestic upskilling programs offers a long-term vision but falls short of addressing immediate shortages. The closure of the health and care worker visa route to new applicants is likely to exacerbate staffing crises unless domestic recruitment improves significantly. Similarly, universities must diversify their source markets and address housing shortages to remain attractive to international students.

The 39% drop in work visa applications and 85% plunge in health and care visa approvals in 2024 signal a transformative moment in UK immigration policy. While the government’s focus on reducing net migration and prioritizing high-skilled workers aligns with public sentiment, it risks undermining critical sectors like health and education. The challenge for policymakers is to balance these restrictions with the need for a sustainable workforce and a vibrant higher education sector. As the UK navigates this new immigration landscape, the coming years will test the resilience of its economy and the effectiveness of its policies in fostering both integration and growth.