Key facts
- Skilled tech visa applications in the UK decreased by 7% to 34,936 in 2025.
- This marks the third consecutive year of decline in such applications.
- Applications have fallen by more than a third since their peak in 2022.
- AI minister Kanishka Narayan has called for improved visa access for skilled workers.
- The government introduced a visa reimbursement scheme for eligible scale-ups in June.
- Industry experts suggest visa costs and complexity continue to disadvantage the UK.
Applications for UK skilled tech visas have fallen for a third consecutive year, despite government efforts to attract global AI talent. A Freedom of Information request by RSM UK revealed a 7% drop in applications to 34,936 in 2025, a significant decrease from the peak of 53,729 in 2022.
AI minister Kanishka Narayan has emphasized the need for easier visa routes for highly skilled workers to compete globally. However, industry experts like Ben Bilsland from RSM UK note that talent shortages and high employment costs, exacerbated by recent tax changes and the Employment Rights Act, continue to challenge the tech sector. Bilsland stressed that while AI can boost productivity, skilled individuals are crucial for its safe and successful deployment.
The declining application numbers raise questions about the effectiveness of the UK's immigration system in supporting the government's ambition to foster world-leading tech companies. Despite initiatives such as a visa reimbursement scheme for eligible scale-ups and the expansion of the Global Talent visa, industry figures argue that visa costs and complexity still place Britain at a disadvantage compared to international competitors. Bilsland suggested that visa reform could unlock significant growth, but details of government plans remain unclear, and the application process needs to be more accessible for businesses of all sizes.
Furthermore, the Startup Coalition has expressed concerns that UK startups are losing confidence in government support due to slow procurement processes and limited public sector spending with domestic technology firms. The group indicated that more substantial reforms to public procurement are necessary to translate the government's technological ambitions into sustained economic growth.