1-20 of 156 results for subject:Visas
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.343 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.007 seconds
- Search query
- subject:Visas
- We searched for
- subject_t:Visas OR subject_t:eVisas OR subject_ses:93429
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
More
Primary member
More
Answering member
More
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
To ask His Majesty's Government how many student visa applications were (1) accepted, and (2) rejected, in each year since 2023–24.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many student visa applications were (1) accepted, and (2) rejected, in each year since 2023–24.
The Home Office publishes the data you have requested in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on sponsored study outcomes are published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visa applications and outcomes detailed datasets’. The latest data goes up to the year ending March 2026. Please find below a table on sponsored study visas issued and refused for each year between the year ending March 2024, to the year ending March 2026.
Sponsored study (‘Student’ and ‘Child Student’) entry clearance visas issued and refused between the YE March 2024 to the YE March 2026
Year Ending | Issued | Refused |
YE March 2024 | 557,221 | 24,749 |
YE March 2025 | 421,621 | 14,155 |
YE March 2026 | 409,954 | 20,399 |
Notes: The figures include both main applicants and dependant family members.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to reconsider the visa status of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, following their political protest at the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina on 15 July.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to reconsider the visa status of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, following their political protest at the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina on 15 July.
The Immigration Rules provide for the cancellation of entry clearance, permission to enter and permission to stay on suitability grounds, regardless of the category in which an individual makes an application.
A person’s permission to enter or stay will usually be cancelled if the person’s character, conduct, or associations mean it is undesirable for them to enter or stay in the UK. The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.
The Government looks to FIFA to investigate the issue and take action in accordance with its tournament rules.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Notice of Refusal letters they have issued since 2024, broken down by month.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Notice of Refusal letters they have issued since 2024, broken down by month.
The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Statistics on Returns from the UK are published quarterly. The latest release shows that there were a total of 39,000 returns from the UK in the year ending March 2026.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that non-EU citizens with digital-only eVisas, lawfully resident in, and with permission to enter, the UK are recognised as having adequate documentation and are not denied boarding.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that non-EU citizens with digital-only eVisas, lawfully resident in, and with permission to enter, the UK are recognised as having adequate documentation and are not denied boarding.
The Home Office has engaged with international carriers on the use of eVisas through direct communications, carrier forums and awareness sessions, and continues to do so. Carriers can verify a passenger's permission to travel through digital checks against Home Office systems and have access to operational guidance and support.
The UK Carrier Support Hub operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist with status checks where required. eVisa holders are advised to keep their UKVI account up to date and ensure the passport or travel document they intend to use for travel is linked to their account. More than 10 million eVisas have been issued and most people use them with no issues.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the suspension of student visas on Afghan women who are prohibited by the Taliban from accessing higher education in Afghanistan; and whether they will introduce an exemption for women offered places at UK universities.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the suspension of student visas on Afghan women who are prohibited by the Taliban from accessing higher education in Afghanistan; and whether they will introduce an exemption for women offered places at UK universities.
The Government has no current plans to introduce exceptions to the visa brake. However, the government has recently announced the development of new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution from around the world. We will ensure that these routes will be sustainable, well-managed and in line with UK capacity to support new refugees. It is expected that the student refugee route will be open for applications from Autumn 2026, with the first students arriving in Autumn 2027.
The visa brake is being kept under regular review. It is not intended to be permanent and will be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so.
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to review the visa brake currently applying to Afghan students; and when they expect the first review to take place.
To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they will use to review the visa brake currently applying to Afghan students; and when they expect the first review to take place.
The Government has no current plans to introduce exceptions to the visa brake. However, the government has recently announced the development of new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution from around the world. We will ensure that these routes will be sustainable, well-managed and in line with UK capacity to support new refugees. It is expected that the student refugee route will be open for applications from Autumn 2026, with the first students arriving in Autumn 2027.
The visa brake is being kept under regular review. It is not intended to be permanent and will be released once the government considers it appropriate to do so.
To ask His Majesty's Government why members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe were required to have visas to attend the Parliamentary Assembly Conference on Artificial Intelligence in London in December 2025.
To ask His Majesty's Government why members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe were required to have visas to attend the Parliamentary Assembly Conference on Artificial Intelligence in London in December 2025.
All individuals visiting the UK – with the exception of British nationals, Irish nationals, and those exempt from immigration control – are required to obtain the appropriate entry clearance or permission in advance of travel.
The UK has a range of agreements and treaties with recognised international organisations, including the Council of Europe, which set out the privileges and immunities afforded to specified categories of persons. However, these agreements do not extend exemption from immigration control to members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and, as such, standard processes apply.
HM Government keeps its policy on exemption from immigration control under review. Exemption from immigration control is only extended where it is considered necessary, proportionate and justified. There are currently no plans to amend the arrangements to provide exemption from immigration control for members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe attending meetings in the UK.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adjusting their policy to allow members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to attend PACE meetings in the UK without the need for a visa.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adjusting their policy to allow members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to attend PACE meetings in the UK without the need for a visa.
All individuals visiting the UK – with the exception of British nationals, Irish nationals, and those exempt from immigration control – are required to obtain the appropriate entry clearance or permission in advance of travel.
The UK has a range of agreements and treaties with recognised international organisations, including the Council of Europe, which set out the privileges and immunities afforded to specified categories of persons. However, these agreements do not extend exemption from immigration control to members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and, as such, standard processes apply.
HM Government keeps its policy on exemption from immigration control under review. Exemption from immigration control is only extended where it is considered necessary, proportionate and justified. There are currently no plans to amend the arrangements to provide exemption from immigration control for members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe attending meetings in the UK.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for auditing the appropriateness and legality of the skilled worker visa route for those individuals specifically sponsored by (1) vape shops, (2) other retail shops, and (3) micro businesses with sponsorship status.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for auditing the appropriateness and legality of the skilled worker visa route for those individuals specifically sponsored by (1) vape shops, (2) other retail shops, and (3) micro businesses with sponsorship status.
The changes in the Immigration White Paper (July 2025) relating to Skilled Workers, significantly reduced the number of roles eligible to qualify for a visa related to high street retailers. This means that these Sponsor Licence holders are no longer able to bring in overseas workers to work in lower skilled roles associated with retail.
A Micro-business could cut across numerous sectors and therefore their ability to recruit specific roles will be dependent on the skill level of the role they wish to sponsor.
We routinely check the compliance of licensed sponsors and will remove their licences where non-compliance is proven. Since this Government has come to power, we have revoked record numbers of sponsor licences.
The United Kingdom has one of the most generous visa offers in Europe for workers in the creative industries. A large number of people, including nationals of EU member states, do not require visas if coming for less than six months. The Government have identified separately the creative industries as one of their eight key growth-driving sectors and have set out a new industrial strategy, including £380 million in targeted funding.
The United Kingdom has one of the most generous visa offers in Europe for workers in the creative industries. A large number of people, including nationals of EU member states, do not require visas if coming for less than six months. The Government have identified separately the creative industries as one of their eight key growth-driving sectors and have set out a new industrial strategy, including £380 million in targeted funding.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change their policy on temporary skilled worker visas for creative occupations.
I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her question. Musicians, entertainers, artists and technical staff from non-visa national countries can perform in the UK for up to six months, as she knows. They require only an ETA, which costs just £20 and lasts two years. If she will let me, I will look at the specific issue of dancers and correspond with her. The Government’s general approach is to ensure that we have as much access as we can because we want to support the creative industries at home and we want to support those in the creative industries being able to travel abroad. I will look at the specific points that she has mentioned.
I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her question. Musicians, entertainers, artists and technical staff from non-visa national countries can perform in the UK for up to six months, as she knows. They require only an ETA, which costs just £20 and lasts two years. If she will let me, I will look at the specific issue of dancers and correspond with her. The Government’s general approach is to ensure that we have as much access as we can because we want to support the creative industries at home and we want to support those in the creative industries being able to travel abroad. I will look at the specific points that she has mentioned.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I am particularly concerned about the world of dance. Despite the fact that dancers and choreographers spend years training, their qualifications are assessed as being below degree level, and consequently they are eligible for sponsorship to work in the UK via the skilled workers visa route only if they remain on the temporary shortage list. If they do not remain, can the Government confirm that they will secure some sort of exemption or special arrangement for them, as already exists for sportspeople, otherwise there will be a huge negative impact on our world-renowned dance sector and the dance companies that all recruit from a global talent pool?
Funnily enough, as the noble Viscount will know, sheep-shearers were not on my briefing for the creative industries. I am sure it is extremely creative and extremely high skilled, but it was not specifically part of my research in answering the Question. The key point is that the Government are trying to ensure that, where possible, we encourage locally grown talent to fill all skilled worker positions. I will look at the specific issue that he has mentioned, and I will ensure that any future creative industries Question includes sheep-shearers as part of my paragraphs.
Funnily enough, as the noble Viscount will know, sheep-shearers were not on my briefing for the creative industries. I am sure it is extremely creative and extremely high skilled, but it was not specifically part of my research in answering the Question. The key point is that the Government are trying to ensure that, where possible, we encourage locally grown talent to fill all skilled worker positions. I will look at the specific issue that he has mentioned, and I will ensure that any future creative industries Question includes sheep-shearers as part of my paragraphs.
My Lords, I shall ask about another class of skilled and creative workers in need of temporary visas—namely, sheep-shearers during the sheep-shearing season. They are fundamental to animal welfare. There is a serious issue about the grant of visas. I do not imagine that the Minister knows the answer immediately. Will he be good enough to write to me and copy his response to the chairman of the NFU?
I do not agree that all individuals who come to this country are financial burdens. People historically have made long-term contributions, paid taxes and filled vacancies. However, the Government have to have a managed border system and ensure that, where we can, we upskill United Kingdom citizens to compete and fill vacancies. That is the objective that the Government have in the White Paper, and it is one that I know my noble friend will support.
I do not agree that all individuals who come to this country are financial burdens. People historically have made long-term contributions, paid taxes and filled vacancies. However, the Government have to have a managed border system and ensure that, where we can, we upskill United Kingdom citizens to compete and fill vacancies. That is the objective that the Government have in the White Paper, and it is one that I know my noble friend will support.
My Lords, when a skilled worker applies for a job in the UK, he pays thousands of pounds to the Home Office in fees, and then he pays thousands of pounds in surcharge every year to the National Health Service. He pays his taxes, national insurance and council tax, and in return he gets nothing—none of the benefits and no recourse to public funds. Yet right-wing parties such as Reform and others are saying that these workers are a financial burden on our country. Does my noble friend the Minister agree with that statement?
The Government’s objective in all this is to ensure that we support the creative industries, that people with skills who wish to come to the UK to participate in the creative industries or to tour as part of the creative industries can do so, and that UK citizens can travel elsewhere in the world as frictionlessly as they possibly can in order to meet their creative talents and employment. That is the objective. I will certainly reflect on all the points that have been made today relating to specific issues that have been raised.
The Government’s objective in all this is to ensure that we support the creative industries, that people with skills who wish to come to the UK to participate in the creative industries or to tour as part of the creative industries can do so, and that UK citizens can travel elsewhere in the world as frictionlessly as they possibly can in order to meet their creative talents and employment. That is the objective. I will certainly reflect on all the points that have been made today relating to specific issues that have been raised.
My Lords, following up on the question from my noble friend, when the Minister writes to her regarding the position of dancers, will he take on board that, had the existing rules applied, Acosta would never have been able to come from Cuba to fulfil the wonderful work that he has been doing since?
I refer the noble Lord to the immigration White Paper that the Government produced last year, which will see itself translated into potential legislative proposals during the course of the forthcoming year that will be subject to scrutiny in both Houses. The purpose of the immigration White Paper was to say that there are certain skills that we need and that, if we can, those skills should be met from the UK’s workforce, and, if not, we will upskill. If there are other skills, then certainly there have to be some strictures around how we attract those skills to the UK. The Government’s central mission is one of encouraging growth. That is what we are trying to do within the remit of managing our borders in a secure and safe way.
I refer the noble Lord to the immigration White Paper that the Government produced last year, which will see itself translated into potential legislative proposals during the course of the forthcoming year that will be subject to scrutiny in both Houses. The purpose of the immigration White Paper was to say that there are certain skills that we need and that, if we can, those skills should be met from the UK’s workforce, and, if not, we will upskill. If there are other skills, then certainly there have to be some strictures around how we attract those skills to the UK. The Government’s central mission is one of encouraging growth. That is what we are trying to do within the remit of managing our borders in a secure and safe way.
My Lords, do the Government accept that, across a wide range of skills, the country is simply unable at the moment to attract many of the most talented people that it needs in order to secure growth, and that part of the problem is the administrative burden, which has just been alluded to, of making those applications? Will they undertake a review of the administration of the scheme in order to try to obtain those skilled workers?
The noble Lord will know—again, for the House’s reference—that we had the immigration White Paper, we have set a direction of travel and we have announced in the King’s Speech an immigration Bill that will be coming forth shortly. I suspect it will arrive first in the House of Commons. The Government have a duty on behalf of the UK population to secure our borders and make sure that our immigration system is fair. That is what we are trying to do with the proposals that he is aware of.
The noble Lord will know—again, for the House’s reference—that we had the immigration White Paper, we have set a direction of travel and we have announced in the King’s Speech an immigration Bill that will be coming forth shortly. I suspect it will arrive first in the House of Commons. The Government have a duty on behalf of the UK population to secure our borders and make sure that our immigration system is fair. That is what we are trying to do with the proposals that he is aware of.
My Lords, we all recognise the contribution that creative artists make when visiting our country, but we have to restrict the criteria for skilled worker visas to ensure that the system works as intended, so I welcome the Government’s action here. Given that, can the Minister confirm that the Government will hold the line on this issue, not reverse the changes that they have made, and follow through on their other immigration reforms, particularly their policy on indefinite leave to remain?
I am grateful to my noble friend for drawing that to my attention in the Chamber today. As I said to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, I will look at the question of dancers specifically. There is a threshold, and I am not
clear where the dancing community falls in relation to it, but I will check that and copy any letter that I write to the noble Baroness to my noble friend.
I am grateful to my noble friend for drawing that to my attention in the Chamber today. As I said to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter, I will look at the question of dancers specifically. There is a threshold, and I am not
clear where the dancing community falls in relation to it, but I will check that and copy any letter that I write to the noble Baroness to my noble friend.
My Lords, I declare an interest in that my wife was a board member of the English National Ballet for many years. I want to follow up on the original Question. It is the case, as the Home Office would know if it bothered to consult the ballet companies, that its rules do not allow visas to be granted to brilliant young dancers from all over the world. There is a particular case of people who have been recruited from the Brazilian favelas as brilliant dancers who are excluded from Britain because of a negative Home Office policy.
My noble friend and I have had a significant correspondence on this issue over the past 12 months. I recognise that there are concerns about a labour shortage for certain skills in Northern Ireland. The argument that the Government have continually made is that we need to look at how we can encourage home-grown skills, but I will certainly reflect on what she said today, discuss it with my colleagues in Defra and, if there are any updates, I will contact the noble Baroness accordingly.
My noble friend and I have had a significant correspondence on this issue over the past 12 months. I recognise that there are concerns about a labour shortage for certain skills in Northern Ireland. The argument that the Government have continually made is that we need to look at how we can encourage home-grown skills, but I will certainly reflect on what she said today, discuss it with my colleagues in Defra and, if there are any updates, I will contact the noble Baroness accordingly.
My Lords, in supporting the case for visas for those in the creative industries, I draw my noble friend’s attention to another area that I have already discussed with him: the fishing industry. That industry depends on migrant workers who come for a short period of time, but, under the current regulations, that is no longer happening. My noble friend the Minister’s colleagues in Defra are talking to the fishing industry in Northern Ireland and in other parts of the UK about possible solutions. I urge him to have discussions with ministerial colleagues in Defra with a view to finding solutions that allow growth in the fishing economy.
I will certainly look at the points that the noble Lord has mentioned. I come back to the key point: the Government have recognised that the creative industries are not just fluffy but are an economic driver for the UK, in television, film, art, opera and dance. That is why the Government have committed £380 million towards a plan to help the creative industries to secure growth. I will look at the specific points that the noble Lord has mentioned. Again, some of these points are important but not necessarily at the front of the discussions that I have had. I will look at those points, but the House needs to be assured that this Government are committed to growth and to the creative industries and see them as an engine of employment and wealth.
I will certainly look at the points that the noble Lord has mentioned. I come back to the key point: the Government have recognised that the creative industries are not just fluffy but are an economic driver for the UK, in television, film, art, opera and dance. That is why the Government have committed £380 million towards a plan to help the creative industries to secure growth. I will look at the specific points that the noble Lord has mentioned. Again, some of these points are important but not necessarily at the front of the discussions that I have had. I will look at those points, but the House needs to be assured that this Government are committed to growth and to the creative industries and see them as an engine of employment and wealth.
My Lords, on a similar point to that raised by the noble Lord, Lord Liddle, I am a trustee of the National Opera Studio, which trains brilliant young opera singers and is sponsored by the country’s leading opera companies. There are problems in the operation of the global talent visa for a small number of singers who come from other countries. I know that there is a call for evidence on this. Would the Government please look at this matter? We are talking about a small number of people and about protecting the position of the UK as internationally significant in opera.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change their policy on temporary skilled worker visas for creative occupations.
To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change their policy on temporary skilled worker visas for creative occupations.
The United Kingdom has one of the most generous visa offers in Europe for workers in the creative industries. A large number of people, including nationals of EU member states, do not require visas if coming for less than six months. The Government have identified separately the creative industries as one of their eight key growth-driving sectors and have set out a new industrial strategy, including £380 million in targeted funding.