The most recent knowledge launched by the UK Residence Workplace has revealed a 38% decline in examine visas issued to Nigerians between March 2023 and March 2024.
The report notably focuses on the decline within the variety of examine visas issued to candidates from India and Nigeria, that are the UK’s two main markets for examine visas.
Visas issued to candidates from India fell by 16% for a similar time interval.
NairaMetrics learns that this decline seems to be intently tied to the rule change in January 2024, which now restricts worldwide college students from bringing dependents except they’re enrolled in research-focused postgraduate applications.
What the report signifies
Visa issuances to most important candidates (excluding dependents) dropped by simply over 6% year-over-year and 10% in comparison with the height in June 2023.
These patterns recommend a shifting pattern in visa purposes and issuances, influenced by numerous components, together with coverage adjustments and broader world situations.
The interaction between the expansion of most important applicant visas and the corresponding rise and fall of dependent visas painted a nuanced image of worldwide mobility and the evolving panorama of examine visas within the UK.
The Residence Workplace reported,
“After a decline in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, the variety of visas issued elevated sharply, reaching a peak of 498,626 within the yr ending June 2023. The most recent yr noticed a slight lower to 446,924.”
“Within the yr ending March 2024, there have been 111,481 visas issued to pupil dependents, a 25% lower from the earlier yr however almost seven instances larger than in 2019.
“The variety of dependents has grown sooner than most important candidates in recent times, peaking in March 2023 with roughly three dependents for each ten most important candidates.
“Each most important candidates and dependents have since declined, with a sooner fee of lower for dependents within the first quarter of 2024. Within the yr ending March 2024, 20% of sponsored examine visas had been issued to dependents.”
A major majority of UK examine visas are issued for graduate research (66% of most important candidates for the yr ending March 2024), with one other 25% issued to undergraduate enrollees.
Nonetheless, the modest decline in visa issuances by March would possibly sign a bigger pattern. The Residence Workplace earlier reported a 44% drop in examine visa purposes within the first three months of 2024 in comparison with the identical interval final yr.
The downturn follows important progress in visa volumes since 2016, which was mirrored by a rise in visas for dependents.
Abstract of the report
Within the interval spanning from March 2019 to March 2024, candidates from Nigeria skilled a notable upward trajectory within the variety of visas granted, ranging from a modest base.
- Initially, in March 2019, the variety of visas issued to Nigerians stood at roughly 10,000.
- Over the following years, this determine witnessed a gradual and important improve.
- By March 2023, the variety of visas granted had risen to about 50,000, marking a fivefold improve from the 2019 baseline.
- This upward pattern, nevertheless, didn’t persist with out fluctuation. By March 2024, there was a slight decline, with the variety of visas issued to Nigerians dropping to round 45,000.
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