UK sees significant fall in work visas due to stricter immigration reforms

The UK government has said the number of visas issued to foreign workers has fallen by half compared with peak levels seen in 2023, highlighting the impact of a series of immigration reforms aimed at reducing reliance on overseas labour while prioritising domestic workers.

In a post on X, the UK Home Office said, “The number of visas issued to foreign workers has halved since its peak in 2023. Over 100 occupations have been prevented from accessing overseas labour. We are protecting British workers from being undercut while welcoming the high-skilled talent that our economy needs.”

Work visa numbers decline

According to the Home Office data, work visas peaked at more than 613,000 in the year ending December 2023 before falling sharply following a series of policy changes. In the year ending March 2026, around 253,000 work visas were granted, representing a decline of nearly 60% from the 2023 peak.

The fall has been driven largely by changes to skilled worker and health and care visa routes. The government increased scrutiny of employers, tightened eligibility requirements and introduced measures that removed more than 100 occupations from overseas recruitment pathways. Additional restrictions announced through the Immigration White Paper and implemented from July 2025 further reduced visa numbers.

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Focus on UK workforce

Health and care worker visas have recorded some of the steepest declines since 2023, while applications under the broader skilled worker route have also fallen following higher salary thresholds and stricter immigration rules.

The government maintains that the changes are intended to reduce dependence on overseas recruitment and encourage employers to invest in the domestic workforce, while continuing to attract highly skilled international talent needed by the UK economy.