Official Statistics

Monthly entry clearance visa applications, November 2025

Published 11 December 2025

This is not the latest release. View latest release.

Next update due: 8 January 2026

The visa application data in this release provides statistics on numbers of people with an intention to enter the UK for work, study and family reasons.

The statistics in this release are provisional. Final numbers will be published in the quarterly Home Office Immigration system statistics.

1. Work visas

1.1 Skilled work routes

Figure 1: Monthly applications for Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, January 2022 to November 2025

Figure 1 shows that the monthly number of Health and Care Worker visa applications from main applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023, following the addition of care workers to the Shortage Occupation List.

Monthly applications subsequently fell to 2,400 in March 2024, due to more scrutiny applied by the Home Office to employers in the health and social care sector, and compliance activity taken against employers who do not fulfil their obligations as employers of migrant workers. Applications remained at a similar level until July 2025, when they dropped further, following the end to overseas recruitment of care workers. In November 2025, there were 600 applications.

Monthly applications for dependants on the Health and Care Worker route increased in-line with main applicants, peaking at 23,300 in August 2023 and falling sharply between December 2023 and March 2024. There were further falls in April 2024 following restrictions on dependants for health and care workers that were introduced in March 2024. Numbers have remained lower than 2023 levels with 2,900 applications in November 2025.

In contrast, the monthly number of Skilled Worker visa applications from main applicants were broadly stable between June 2022 and March 2024 at around 6,000 applications per month. Applications temporarily increased to 10,100 in April 2024, ahead of the spring 2024 policy changes, before returning to levels similar to previous months. Applications gradually decreased until July 2025, when the most recent policy changes were implemented. Numbers have decreased further since, with 2,000 applications in November 2025.

Applications for dependants on the Skilled Worker route have largely followed the trend for main applicants. There were 3,100 applications in November 2025.

The recent fall in applications for both Health and Care Worker visas and Skilled Worker visas has followed policy changes that came into effect towards the end of July 2025 (see ‘Policy Changes’ section).

1.2 Temporary work routes

The main temporary work routes to the UK (the Youth Mobility Scheme and Seasonal Worker route) follow seasonal patterns, typically peaking in spring of each year. Individuals on these routes are ineligible to bring dependants.

There were 22,000 applications for Youth Mobility Scheme visas in the year ending November 2025, 11% fewer than the year ending November 2024.

Seasonal Worker visas are also subject to an annual quota, which means that the number of applications have been broadly stable at 30,000 to 40,000 over the last few years. There were 39,100 applications for Seasonal Worker visas in the year ending November 2025, 10% more than the year ending November 2024.

2. Study visas

Figure 2: Monthly applications for Sponsored study visas, January 2022 to November 2025

Sponsored study visas follow seasonal patterns, peaking in August, ahead of the start of the academic year (with a second smaller peak in December). Figure 2 shows that applications from Sponsored study visa main applicants in the year ending November 2025 (432,200) were 7% higher than the year ending November 2024, but 12% lower than the year ending November 2023.

There were 22,200 applications from dependants of students in the year ending November 2025, 85% fewer than the year ending December 2023. This followed the rule changes that came into effect in January 2024 which prevent most students from bringing dependants, other than those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.

3. Family visas

Figure 3: Monthly applications for Family visas, January 2022 to November 2025

Figure 3 shows that monthly numbers of Family visa applications increased from 7,500 in December 2023 to 12,700 in April 2024, following the announcement in December 2023 of the proposed increase in Family income requirements.

After the implementation of the policy in April 2024, numbers fell sharply to 5,100 in June 2024 as there were fewer applications for Partner visas. They then gradually increased, mainly due to more Partner visa applications, as well as smaller increases to Child and Refugee Family Reunion visa applications. However, in September 2025, the Refugee Family Reunion route was paused and there has since been a fall in applications for Family visas, with numbers dropping to 5,100 in November 2025.

4. Policy changes

On 12 May 2025, the Home Office announced further changes to immigration rules in the Restoring Control over the Immigration System white paper. The policy changes affecting Work visas came into effect on 22 July 2025. Policy changes are one of a range of factors that can impact visa application trends.

The changes to Immigration Rules affecting Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas are as follows:

• skill level requirement raised: To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, the job must now be at RQF level 6 or above, with exceptions for jobs which are on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List

• restrictions on dependants: Workers on the Temporary Shortage List are not permitted to sponsor dependants

• minimum Salary: Skilled Worker visas increased from £38,700 to £41,700; for Health and Care Worker visa, the salary threshold stayed the same at £25,000

• ending overseas recruitment for care workers: No new international applicants will be allowed to apply for care jobs in the UK under the current visa route; however some people in care worker and senior care worker roles can continue to apply to switch visas in-country until July 2028

On 4 September, the Refugee Family Reunion route was paused. Those seeking reunification may apply through other family routes, if they believe they meet the relevant immigration rules.

5. Data table

Data on monthly applications for Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Sponsored study, Family, Youth Mobility Scheme and Seasonal Worker visas can be found in the following table:

• Monthly entry clearance visa applications: data tables, November 2025