What do the September 2026 visa statistics show?

The latest report indicates lower application volumes across several major work, study and family routes compared with the corresponding 12-month period one year earlier. The changes follow several immigration policy amendments introduced during 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The figures measure applications for entry clearance from people intending to enter the UK. They should not be confused with the number of visas granted, the number of people who arrived at the border, net migration estimates or applications to extend permission from inside the country.

The reporting period is also important. A year ending September 2026 figure covers 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026. It provides a rolling annual comparison and helps reduce the effect of seasonal fluctuations in routes such as student and seasonal work visas.

1. Skilled Worker visa applications fall by 43%

The Home Office recorded 26,400 Skilled Worker visa applications from main applicants in the year ending September 2026. This was 43% lower than the corresponding period ending September 2025.

Applications from dependants on the Skilled Worker route also declined. The latest report recorded 35,500 dependant applications, compared with 47,400 in the year ending September 2025. This represents a fall of approximately 25%.

The trend follows changes to the Skilled Worker route, including the higher skill-level requirement introduced in July 2025 and changes to salary and English-language requirements. The effect of these policies can vary by occupation, sponsor and applicant circumstances. The statistics alone do not establish how much of the decline was caused by any single rule.

What this means for applicants

People planning to apply for a Skilled Worker visa should check whether their proposed occupation qualifies, whether the employer is authorised to sponsor workers and whether the salary and English-language requirements are met. A fall in overall applications does not mean that every occupation has become easier or harder to qualify for.

Employers should check the current occupation rules, salary requirements and sponsorship guidance before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. The latest statistics are useful for understanding the wider market, but they are not a substitute for the rules applying to an individual application.

2. Health and Care Worker visa applications fall by 63%

Health and Care Worker applications from main applicants totalled 7,500 in the year ending September 2026. This was 63% lower than the previous 12-month period and 95% below the peak of 161,700 recorded in the year ending November 2023.

Applications from dependants of Health and Care Workers totalled 31,000, a fall of 36% compared with the year ending September 2025. The Home Office says the decline in dependant applications is associated with fewer main applicants as well as the restrictions on dependants of care workers introduced in March 2024.

The Home Office has also increased scrutiny of employers in the health and social care sector and taken compliance action against employers that did not meet their sponsorship obligations. Policy changes in 2024 and July 2025 have contributed to the changing environment for overseas recruitment.

In July 2025, the government ended new overseas applications under the care worker and senior care worker route, while allowing certain people already in the UK to switch routes under transitional arrangements that can continue until July 2028. Applicants should verify the current rules before making plans based on an older recruitment advertisement.

3. Sponsored study visa applications decline by 19%

The UK recorded 352,500 sponsored study visa applications from main applicants in the year ending September 2026. This was 19% lower than the previous 12-month period.

Applications from student dependants totalled 15,700, down 31% year on year. The number of dependant applications was 89% lower than in the year ending December 2023, before the restrictions introduced in January 2024 took effect.

Sponsored study applications generally follow an annual pattern. Volumes tend to rise in August ahead of the academic year, with a smaller increase in December. A comparison covering a full 12 months helps account for these seasonal movements, although it does not remove every influence on application volumes.

Changes to dependant eligibility and the visa brake introduced in March 2026 are part of the wider policy context. The Home Office states that the nationalities affected by the visa brake represent a small proportion of sponsored study applications.

What international students should check

Students should confirm that their education provider is authorised to sponsor the relevant course, obtain the required Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies and review the current financial and English-language requirements. Students intending to bring family members must check whether their course and circumstances permit dependant applications.

Application volumes do not indicate the probability that an individual student will receive a visa. The decision depends on the route requirements, supporting evidence, credibility assessment where applicable and any restrictions that apply to the applicant.

4. Family visa applications fall by 27%

The Home Office recorded 60,200 family visa applications in the year ending September 2026, compared with 82,900 in the year ending September 2025. This represents a 27% decrease.

The report also identifies a decline in monthly family visa applications following the pause in new Refugee Family Reunion applications. Monthly family visa applications fell from 8,400 in September 2025 to 4,800 in September 2026.

These figures cover the family visa category reported by the Home Office. They should not be interpreted as a count of every person who applied to join relatives through every immigration route. Refugee family reunion and other family-related immigration routes may be reported separately or affected by specific policy arrangements.

People applying to join a spouse, partner or eligible family member should check the route that fits their circumstances, including relationship evidence, financial requirements, English-language requirements where applicable and the relevant application fees.

5. Seasonal Worker applications increase by 8%

Seasonal Worker visa applications reached 42,100 in the year ending September 2026, an increase of 8% compared with the previous year.

The Seasonal Worker route supports eligible temporary work in specified sectors under an annual quota. Application numbers can change with recruitment demand, seasonal production requirements, available places and the timing of recruitment campaigns.

Applicants should have a valid offer through an approved scheme operator and meet the route conditions. A general job advertisement is not sufficient evidence that a position qualifies for a Seasonal Worker visa.

The Seasonal Worker route does not permit applicants to bring dependants. Anyone considering this option should check the approved scheme operator list and the latest official guidance before paying recruitment-related costs.

6. Youth Mobility Scheme applications decline by 5%

The Home Office recorded 20,700 Youth Mobility Scheme applications in the year ending September 2026, which was 5% fewer than in the previous 12-month period.

The Youth Mobility Scheme allows eligible young people from participating countries and territories to live and work in the UK temporarily. Eligibility depends on nationality, age, available places where relevant and the conditions of the particular scheme agreement.

Applicants should check the current age range, financial requirement, ballot arrangements where applicable and application opening dates for their nationality. Eligibility and annual allocations can differ between participating countries and territories.

Visa application statistics comparison

Figures are from the Home Office monthly entry clearance visa applications release for September 2026. The main applicant and dependant categories are separate measures and should not be added together without checking the definitions in the source data.

Why are UK visa applications changing?

The Home Office identifies several policy changes that may affect recent application trends. These include changes to work visa eligibility, salary thresholds, English-language requirements, dependant rules and restrictions on some overseas applications.

Skilled Worker skill level and salary rules

From 22 July 2025, the general skill-level requirement for the Skilled Worker route increased to jobs at Regulated Qualifications Framework level 6 or above, with exceptions for specified occupations included on the relevant lists. The general salary threshold also increased from £38,700 to £41,700, while the Health and Care Worker salary threshold remained at £25,000 under the rules described in the report. Other occupation-specific and transitional provisions may apply.

English-language requirements

On 8 January 2026, the English-language requirement increased from B1 to B2 for certain work visa applicants, including applicants under the Skilled Worker route. Applicants should check the precise requirement for their route and whether an exemption or transitional provision applies.

Restrictions on dependants

Restrictions introduced in March 2024 limited dependant eligibility for many care workers. Most international students also became unable to bring dependants under the rules introduced from January 2024, subject to exceptions for certain courses and circumstances. These changes are part of the context for the lower dependant application figures.

Visa brake and family reunion pause

The government introduced a visa brake on 26 March 2026 for certain entry clearance applications based on the nationality of the main applicant. The Home Office states that the nationalities affected account for a small proportion of sponsored study applications.

The Refugee Family Reunion route was paused for new applications from September 2025, which the Home Office identifies as a factor behind the reduction in family visa applications. People seeking to join family members should check the latest official guidance because alternative routes have separate eligibility requirements.

Do lower application numbers mean visa approval is easier?

No. A reduction in the number of applications does not automatically mean that approval rates have increased or that eligibility requirements have become easier. Application volumes show demand for a route, while approval and refusal statistics measure different outcomes.

For example, fewer Skilled Worker applications may reflect eligibility changes, fewer sponsorship opportunities, employer decisions or other factors. It does not establish that an individual applicant has a greater chance of receiving permission.

Applicants should base decisions on the current Immigration Rules, their personal circumstances and the evidence required for their chosen route. Anyone seeking approval-rate information should consult the Home Office quarterly immigration statistics, which provide more detailed outcome data when available.

How to check the latest visa rules before applying

1. Choose the correct route. Identify whether the application is for work, study, family, seasonal employment or youth mobility.
2. Read the current GOV.UK guidance. Check the latest requirements rather than relying on older articles or recruitment advertisements.
3. Check the application date. Transitional arrangements can determine which version of a rule applies.
4. Confirm sponsor status. Work and study applications may require an approved employer or education provider.
5. Review financial and English-language requirements. Confirm the applicable amounts, evidence and exemptions.
6. Check dependant eligibility. Do not assume that a partner or child can apply under every work or study route.
7. Use official statistics carefully. Distinguish applications from grants, refusals, extensions and actual arrivals.

When will the next UK visa statistics be published?

The Home Office schedule lists 12 November 2026 as the next update date for monthly entry clearance visa application statistics. The release is expected to provide data up to the end of October 2026, subject to the publication schedule.

The monthly series provides timely application figures for selected work, study and family routes. The quarterly Immigration System Statistics publication provides more comprehensive information, including visa outcomes and other parts of the immigration system. The Home Office has indicated that final application figures will be published in the quarterly statistics.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and further information

The following government sources provide the official figures and the policy context for this article.

• Home Office: Monthly entry clearance visa applications, September 2026 — official statistics, comparisons and policy context.
• Home Office: September 2026 visa statistics and data tables — publication page and downloadable data.
• Home Office: Immigration System Statistics, year ending June 2026 — broader data on visa grants, extensions and other immigration outcomes.
• GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa — eligibility and application requirements.
• GOV.UK: Student visa — current student application requirements.
• GOV.UK: Family visas — routes for eligible family members.
• GOV.UK: Seasonal Worker visa — eligible work and scheme requirements.