The number of health and care worker visa applications has seen a dramatic decline. According to a recent report by the UK Home Office, there was an 81% drop in applications between April and July 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This sharp decrease follows stringent policy changes introduced earlier this year.
From March 11, 2024, new regulations have prevented care workers and senior care workers from bringing dependents when migrating to the UK.
Additionally, only providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England are now eligible to sponsor Health and Care Visa applicants. These measures have significantly impacted the influx of foreign workers into the UK's care sector.
The figures are stark: visa applications from health and care worker dependents fell from 75,300 in the same period last year to just 22,200 this year. The overall number of health and care worker visa applications plummeted from 18,300 in August 2023 to a mere 2,900 in July 2024.
This decline is causing concern among industry experts who warn that the UK's care sector, already grappling with labor shortages, could face even more severe staffing crises.
"The care sector relies heavily on foreign workers to maintain minimum care standards," noted an industry observer. "This drop in visa applications is likely to exacerbate the situation, leaving many Britons' serious care or healthcare needs unattended."
Former Home Secretary and current Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverly, however, remains unperturbed. In a tweet referencing the decline, he stated, "If you want to know what I’d do as party Leader, look at what I’ve already done."
The education sector is also feeling the pinch, with a 16% drop in international student visa applications in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This decline could result in a loss of over $1.2 billion to the sector, which heavily relies on higher fees paid by foreign students.
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