UK study visa applications rose 13% in January 2025: Home Office

Visa applications to study in the UK rose by 13 per cent in January 2025 from the same time in 2024, the UK Home Office revealed the data. A total of 28,700 applications were received in the period, which is higher than 2024 and 2023 levels in January.

This is considered as the first year-on-year monthly growth since 2023 in October, picturising a sudden recovery in the number of international students intake.

In 2024, several restrictions were imposed on the dependents of students, preventing their family members from joining them or limiting their stay to a shorter period amid visa crisis concerns.

Even though there is a rise in the applications of students, the dependent applications are still low. In the month of January 2025, only 2,300 dependant



visas were reported, with a decline from 3,400 in January 2024 and slightly lower than the 17,500 in the month of January 2023.

Over the 12 months to January 2025, more than 4 lakh study visa applications were made, down by 13 percent from the same duration last year. The same period witnessed a dip in the visa applications of dependants by 84 percent.

The policy was introduced by then Prime Minsiter Rishi Sunak, limits dependents to students on postgraduate research courses. Contrary to financial constraints faced by UK universities which also pushed them to open campyuses in India.

Indian nationals have received a total of 1,42,848 student visas in the year 2023. Apart from the student visa, India also led the non-EU migration with 2.40 lakh immigrants.