Skilled tech visa applications fall again despite AI talent push
The number of overseas tech workers applying for UK visas has fallen for a third consecutive year, despite ministers promising to make Britain a magnet for global AI talent. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by consulting firm RSM UK found that applications from skilled tech workers dropped seven per cent to 34,936 in 2025, [...]
UK visa applications for skilled tech workers declined for the third year in a row, despite the government's efforts to attract AI talent to the country. According to a Freedom of Information request by consulting firm RSM UK, applications fell by seven percent to 34,936 in 2025, down from 37,376 the year prior. This represents a more than one-third reduction since the peak of 53,729 applications in 2022.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan has advocated for easier visa access for top engineers, while technology industry partner Ben Bilsland emphasized the talent shortage as a significant challenge for the UK's tech sector. The decline in applications coincides with rising employment costs for tech businesses amid tax changes and the Employment Rights Act.
Despite visa reform measures, including a reimbursement scheme and expanded Global Talent visa, industry experts argue that the process remains complex and costly, hindering Britain's competitiveness against global rivals.
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