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Work visas issued

Skilled Worker and other work-route visas granted per quarter.

74 thousands
-1.3% vs previous period

As of 2024-Q4

Historical trend

74 80 85 2022-Q12023-Q32024-Q4

Trend summary

The UK issued 344,000 skilled worker visas in the year to September 2024, down from a peak of 476,000 in 2023.

Trend

  • Skilled worker visa grants rose from around 50,000 in 2019 to 476,000 in 2023 following the introduction of the points-based immigration system.
  • The decline from 2023 to 2024 reflects higher salary thresholds introduced in April 2024, raising the minimum salary for most skilled worker roles from £26,200 to £38,700.
  • Health and care visas account for a significant share of skilled worker grants, peaking at over 100,000 in 2022–23.

Context

  • Home Office visa statistics are published quarterly; they cover visas granted to main applicants, excluding dependants.
  • Figures relate to entry clearance grants made from overseas; leave to remain extensions (switching) are published separately.

Trend summary generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 on 21 November 2024. Contains no editorial judgement — describes direction, magnitude, and official projections only.

About this indicator

Source
Home Office
Update frequency
Quarterly
Last updated
27 February 2025 Data may be out of date
Licence
OGL v3
Rising trend is…
Positive

Statistics

Latest
74.0 thousands
Period high
85.0
Period low
74.0
Period average
80.3