New data from the UK Home Office shows a sharp decline in the number of visas granted to Indian nationals in 2025.
Student visas issued to Indians dropped by 11% to 98,014, while work visas saw a steep fall of 48% compared to the previous year.
Despite the decline, Indians remain the second-largest group of international students in the UK, just behind Chinese students, who received 99,919 visas (a 7% drop).
Interestingly, 81% of Indian students chose Master’s programs, compared to 59% of Chinese students.
The major drop in work visas was a key reason behind the 30% overall decline in UK immigration figures this year.
Tighter Rules and More Detentions
Along with fewer visa approvals, the UK has also increased immigration checks.
Detentions of Indian nationals rose by 108% in 2025, reaching 2,715 cases, though most were later granted bail.
Detentions of Brazilians rose 91%, while detentions of Albanians—still the largest group held since 2022—actually declined.
Wider Migration Patterns in the UK
The UK also saw 1,11,000 asylum applications in 2025, the highest number since 1979. Many applicants were people who originally entered the country on student or work visas.
Indians ranked sixth among these groups. In total, visa approvals across all categories dropped by 4,03,000 or 32%, mostly due to stricter rules on dependent visas for students and skilled workers.
What This Means for Indians
These figures show growing challenges for Indian nationals aiming to study, work, or settle in the UK.
While education—especially postgraduate studies—remains a strong entry route, new rules on dependent visas and falling work visa numbers have made other pathways more difficult.
The sharp rise in detentions also reflects the UK government’s tougher immigration stance.
For Indian students, the UK still offers strong opportunities for Master’s degrees, but for professionals and families, the options are now more limited and come with greater risks under the changing immigration policies.
