Work visas issued
Skilled Worker and other work-route visas granted per quarter.
261.1m
-29.1% vs 2024
As of 2025
Historical trend
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.
Commentary contains no editorial judgement — describes direction, magnitude, and official projections only.
About this indicator
- Source
- Home Office
- Update frequency
- Quarterly
- Last updated
- 22 June 2026
- Licence
- OGL v3
- Direction
- ↓ Falling
Statistics
- Latest
- 261.1m
- Period high
- 368.1m
- Period low
- 261.1m
- Period average
- 314.6m