- Tightening of student visa route will reduce migration while
protecting the economic benefits students bring to the UK.
- Government will remove the right for students to bring
dependants on some routes and stop migrants from using student
visas as a backdoor route to work.
- Student visas account for the largest proportion of migration
to the UK.
New government restrictions to student visa routes will
substantially cut net migration by restricting the ability for
international students to bring family members on all but
post-graduate research routes and banning people from using a
student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK.
The ONS estimated that net migration was over 500,000 from June
2021 to June 2022. Although partly attributed to the rise in
temporary factors, such as the UK’s Ukraine and Hong Kong
schemes, last year almost half a million student visas were
issued while the number of dependants of overseas students has
increased by 750% since 2019, to 136,000 people.
The government has also reaffirmed its commitment to the
International Education Strategy which plays an important part in
supporting the economy through the economic contribution students
can bring to the UK. However, this should not be at the expense
of the government’s commitment to the public to lower overall
migration and ensure that migration to the UK is highly skilled
and provides the most benefit.
Today’s proposals to the student visa route allow the government
to continue to meet its International Education Strategy
commitments, while making a tangible contribution to reducing net
migration to sustainable levels. The government has also made
clear that the terms of the graduate route remain unchanged.
The new reforms will come into effect for students starting in
January next year. The government will however work with the
higher education sector to explore alternative options to ensure
the brightest and best students can continue to bring dependents
when they study at the UK’s world-leading universities.
To prevent misuse of the visa system, overseas students will be
stopped from switching from the student visa route into work
routes until their studies have been completed. The government
will also review the funds students must have to demonstrate they
can look after themselves and their dependants in the UK, as well
as clamp down on unscrupulous international student agents who
may be supporting inappropriate applications.
Taken together with the easing of temporary factors, net
migration is expected to fall considerably over the medium term.
As such, the changes to student visas strike the right balance in
supporting the UK economy, including world-leading education
institutions, and upholding the government’s commitment to
reducing overall net migration.
Home Secretary said:
“The UK is a top destination for the brightest students to learn
at some of the world’s best universities. But we have seen an
unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being
brought into the country with visas.
“It is time for us to tighten up this route to ensure we can cut
migration numbers and meet the government’s pledge to the British
people to cut net migration. This is the fair thing to do to
allow us to better protect our public services, while supporting
the economy by allowing the students who contribute the most to
keep coming here.”
The proposals announced today do not detract from the success of
the government’s International Education Strategy, including
meeting the target to host 600,000 international higher education
students studying in the UK each year by 2030, for two years
running.
Education Secretary said:
“Attracting the top students from around the world isn't just
good for our universities - it's essential for our economy and
building vital global relationships.
"But the number of family members being brought to the UK by
students has risen significantly. It is right we are taking
action to reduce this number while maintaining commitment to our
International Education Strategy, which continues to enrich the
UK’s education sector and make a significant contribution to the
wider economy.”
Following the UK leaving the EU, the Government introduced a
points-based immigration system, giving the government full
control of the country’s borders, which is designed to flex to
the needs of the economy and labour market and ensure we have the
skills and talent needed by UK businesses and the NHS.
The government keeps its immigration policies under review to
ensure they are delivering on commitments to the public on net
migration.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- ONS data published in November 2022 estimated that net
migration was at 504,000.
- In the year ending December 2022, 486,000 student visas were
issued to main applicants, up from 269,000 visas issued in 2019,
and 136,000 student visas were issued to dependants, up from
16,000 in 2019.
