Indian nationals accounted for the highest share of UK work visas and the second-highest share of study visas issued in 2024, according to the latest Home Office data.
A total of 369,419 work-related visas were issued by the UK last year. Of these, 81,463 or 22% were granted to Indian nationals — the highest among all countries. This figure placed India well ahead of other top countries such as Pakistan (9%), Nigeria (7%), the Philippines (6%), and Zimbabwe (5%).
Among Indian work visa recipients, 34,954 were main applicants (43%) and 46,509 were dependents (57%), including spouses and children. The most commonly issued categories to Indian nationals included the Health and Care Worker visa (30,301 or 37%) and the Skilled Worker visa (27,922 or 34%). Smaller numbers were issued under other categories such as senior or specialist business workers (6,219), creative workers (1,860), international sportspeople (241), religious workers (148), seasonal workers (101), and ministers of religion (70).
According to the data released by Home Office, however, the total number of work visas granted to Indian nationals saw a steep decline of 50% from 162,655 in 2023 to 81,463 in 2024. The number of main applicants dropped by 53%, while dependents decreased by 48%. This fall is likely linked to changes in UK migration rules in early 2024, including a ban on overseas care workers bringing dependents and a significant increase in the salary threshold for skilled worker visas to £38,700.
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In education, Indian students received 92,355 of the total 419,312 UK study visas issued in 2024 — the second-highest after China, which received 103,561 visas. Indian nationals made up 22% of study visas, with 88,909 main applicants (96%) and 3,446 dependants (4%).
This too marked a notable drop from 2023, when Indian nationals were issued 159,371 study visas — a decrease of 42%. Students can only apply for a UK study visa if they hold an unconditional offer from a licensed institution such as a university or college.
These figures come amid broader changes in the UK's immigration policy and rising political debate over migration levels. According to a recent BBC report, the UK’s net migration reached 745,000 in 2022, driven significantly by work, study, and humanitarian routes. The government has since announced new measures aimed at reducing these figures, including restrictions on dependents and salary threshold hikes.
The immigration data reflects how policy shifts are directly influencing mobility for international talent and students — particularly from India, which has traditionally led both work and study routes to the UK.
A total of 369,419 work-related visas were issued by the UK last year. Of these, 81,463 or 22% were granted to Indian nationals — the highest among all countries. This figure placed India well ahead of other top countries such as Pakistan (9%), Nigeria (7%), the Philippines (6%), and Zimbabwe (5%).
Among Indian work visa recipients, 34,954 were main applicants (43%) and 46,509 were dependents (57%), including spouses and children. The most commonly issued categories to Indian nationals included the Health and Care Worker visa (30,301 or 37%) and the Skilled Worker visa (27,922 or 34%). Smaller numbers were issued under other categories such as senior or specialist business workers (6,219), creative workers (1,860), international sportspeople (241), religious workers (148), seasonal workers (101), and ministers of religion (70).
According to the data released by Home Office, however, the total number of work visas granted to Indian nationals saw a steep decline of 50% from 162,655 in 2023 to 81,463 in 2024. The number of main applicants dropped by 53%, while dependents decreased by 48%. This fall is likely linked to changes in UK migration rules in early 2024, including a ban on overseas care workers bringing dependents and a significant increase in the salary threshold for skilled worker visas to £38,700.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
In education, Indian students received 92,355 of the total 419,312 UK study visas issued in 2024 — the second-highest after China, which received 103,561 visas. Indian nationals made up 22% of study visas, with 88,909 main applicants (96%) and 3,446 dependants (4%).
This too marked a notable drop from 2023, when Indian nationals were issued 159,371 study visas — a decrease of 42%. Students can only apply for a UK study visa if they hold an unconditional offer from a licensed institution such as a university or college.
These figures come amid broader changes in the UK's immigration policy and rising political debate over migration levels. According to a recent BBC report, the UK’s net migration reached 745,000 in 2022, driven significantly by work, study, and humanitarian routes. The government has since announced new measures aimed at reducing these figures, including restrictions on dependents and salary threshold hikes.
The immigration data reflects how policy shifts are directly influencing mobility for international talent and students — particularly from India, which has traditionally led both work and study routes to the UK.
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