UK visa applications: skilled, health & care
UK visa applications: skilled, health & care stood at 32,035 Visas in Q2 2026, according to GOV.UK official statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Immigration, quarterly table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 2006 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Immigration, quarterly table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visa applications | |||||||||||
| Worker (skilled and health & care) | 32,035 | 31,026 | 32,778 | 44,654 | 49,527 | 46,690 | 48,062 | 57,356 | 73,191 | 106,619 | |
| Temporary Worker | 30,077 | 24,250 | 14,752 | 16,801 | 33,100 | 22,213 | 14,773 | 17,764 | 30,985 | 24,761 |
Understanding UK visa applications: skilled, health & care
This series tracks every formal entry clearance submission lodged globally for long-term employment within specific health, social care, and professional occupations across the United Kingdom. It isolates principal applicants seeking sponsored positions under designated occupation codes, excluding dependent family members who appear under separate classifications. Unlike general temporary routes, this count reflects permanent or multi-year labour migration channels tied directly to licensed sponsoring employers within regulated sectors.
Interpreting these figures requires accounting for recurring seasonal peaks linked to academic recruitment cycles and policy adjustments governing salary thresholds or shortage occupation lists. Early quarterly estimates frequently undergo minor administrative revisions as complex applications transition through security checks. Analysts should avoid treating application counts as equivalent to actual arrivals, because many submitted requests remain pending, face refusal, or result in approved applicants choosing not to travel.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this series include dependants of skilled workers?
- No, accompanying family members are recorded separately under dedicated dependant categories rather than primary worker counts.
- Are visa applications the same as actual border entries?
- No, an application represents a formal submission and approval process, whereas actual arrivals reflect individuals successfully passing through the border.
- Why do quarterly figures fluctuate throughout the year?
- Fluctuations often reflect employer recruitment cycles, changes in immigration rules, and institutional hiring periods within health and care sectors.