UK grants fewer work visas

UK work visas drop 37%, asylum claims hit record high in 2024; Pakistan among top applicants

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LONDON:

Britain granted far fewer visas to foreign workers last year than in 2023 after the introduction of stricter policies for health and social care workers, but asylum claims hit a record high, official data showed on Thursday.

Home Office immigration statistics for 2024 showed 210,098 work visas were granted in the 12 months to the end of December, a 37% drop compared to the previous year. Visas for health and social care workers fell by 81% to 27,174, the interior ministry data showed, continuing a downward trend that began in early 2024 following restrictions brought in by the previous Conservative government.

But the data also showed that 108,138 people claimed asylum in 2024, an 18% jump year-on-year, and surpassing the previous record high in 2002 with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran the most common nationalities claiming asylum.

Small boat arrivals were also up 25% to 37,000. However, the number of people who were granted refugee status or other leave at initial decision dropped by 37% to 39,616