Indian nationals lead skilled visas in UK

Indians, rising by 63 percent from 13,390 in 2021-22 to 21,837 in 2022-23. The healthcare visa category witnessed an even more substantial surge of 105 percent, with the number of visas granted to Indians increasing from 14,485 to 29,726. In terms of study visas, Indian nationals received the highest number of sponsored study visa grants, with 138,532 visas granted in the year ending March 2023. This marked a substantial increase of 63 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, the number of dependants accompanying Indian students also rose significantly, increasing from 22,598 to 42,381. The release of this data follows recent announcements by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman regarding changes to student visa regulations. The new measures restrict the right of student visa holders to bring dependent family members, permitting it only for PhD level students. These changes were seen as a pre-emptive response to the anticipated release of the ONS figures, which revealed that net migration to the UK reached a record 606,000 in 2022-23, driven by a notable increase in workers and students from outside the European Union (EU). The latest data is expected to amplify calls for stricter immigration controls within the governing Conservative Party, which has set targets to reduce overall migration numbers, particularly following the UK’s exit from the EU.

However, experts caution against including international students in the net migration statistics, arguing that it creates an unwarranted fear of immigration. Lord Karan Bilimoria, co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on International Students, advocates for the exclusion of international students from these figures, highlighting that they are temporary migrants who predominantly return to their home countries upon completion of their studies. The growing number of Indian nationals securing skilled worker and student visas in the UK underscores the strong bilateral ties between the two nations and the significant contributions made by Indian citizens to the UK economy and society.