There has been a sharp fall in the number of overseas health and care workers applying for visas in the first few months of this year compared with the year before.

Just 12,400 people applied for the Health and Care Worker visa from January to April this year, according to the latest statistics published by the government on Wednesday.

During the same period last year, 50,900 applications were made – 76% more than this year.

In March, the government announced social care workers would not longer be able to bring dependents on their visa.

In April, there was a 58% fall in health and care dependents applying compared with April 2023, in the first full month where statistics are available following the announcement.

There was also a 12% reduction in people applying for the sponsored study visa, from 49,400 to 43,600. A sponsored study visa is where an international student or schoolchild is sponsored by an education provider such as an independent school or university.

Applications for dependents on the sponsored study visa dropped by a dramatic 79%, from 38,900 to 8,300.

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That fall comes after the government announced last year that from 1 January this year, post-graduate students could not bring dependents unless they were studying for a PhD or other doctorate, or a research-based degree.

In contrast, the number of people applying for a “skilled worker” visa rose by 41%, with their dependents increasing by 62%.

On 4 April, the government increased the minimum salary for the skilled worker visa from £26,200 to £38,700, so there has not yet been a month of statistics following that announcement.

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