UK Visa Statistics
Live UK visa statistics 2026. Approximately 1.2 million visas are granted each year — including 490,000 student visas and 341,000 work visas — according to Home Office data.
About These Statistics
Approximately 1.2 million visas are granted by the UK Home Office each year across all categories, according to Home Office Immigration Statistics. The largest categories are study visas (approximately 490,000), work visas (approximately 341,000), and family visas (approximately 130,000).
Student visas are granted to international students coming to study at UK universities and other educational institutions. India is the largest source country for student visa holders, followed by Nigeria and China. The Graduate Route — introduced in 2021 — allows international graduates to remain in the UK for two years (or three for PhD graduates) to work or look for work after completing their degree.
Work visas include the Skilled Worker visa (the main route for skilled migrants), Health and Care Worker visas (a fast-track route for NHS and social care recruitment), Intra-Company Transfer visas, and various other specialist routes. The minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas was raised to £38,700 in 2024 (with lower thresholds for some shortage occupations).
Family visas allow UK citizens and settled persons to bring spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, children and other dependants to the UK. The minimum income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner was raised to £29,000 in 2024 as part of measures to reduce net migration, with further planned increases.
Visa income for the Home Office represents a significant revenue stream. Visa application fees range from hundreds to thousands of pounds per application, with the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £1,035 per year per person adding substantially to the total cost of obtaining UK immigration status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How many visas does the UK grant each year?
The UK grants approximately 1.2 million visas per year across all categories according to Home Office Immigration Statistics. Study visas are the largest category at approximately 490,000, followed by work visas at approximately 341,000 and family visas at approximately 130,000. India is the largest source country for both student and work visa holders.
How many student visas does the UK grant each year?
The UK grants approximately 490,000 student visas per year, according to Home Office statistics. This includes visas for study at universities, further education colleges and English language schools. The Graduate Route, introduced in 2021, allows graduates to remain in the UK for up to two years after completing their degree. The government has introduced restrictions on student dependant visas to reduce migration.
What is the minimum salary for a UK skilled worker visa?
The minimum salary threshold for the UK Skilled Worker visa was raised to £38,700 per year in April 2024 for most occupations, up from £26,200. Lower thresholds apply to certain shortage occupations listed on the Immigration Salary List. Health and Care Worker visas have separate salary thresholds. The increase was intended to reduce reliance on overseas labour and reduce net migration.