UK Tech Talent Pipeline Narrows as Overseas Worker Visa Applications Decrease by 7%

The number of skilled overseas workers applying for UK tech visas has declined for the third consecutive year, according to data from UK Visas and Immigration obtained by RSM UK. The tally fell 7%, from 37,376 applications in 2024 to 34,936 last year, a significant drop from the 53,729 applications recorded in 2022. This trend could exacerbate the existing challenges in recruiting tech talent, as the industry already faces a shortage of specialist skills.

Programmers and software developers were the largest group in 2025, with 15,689 certificates, followed by IT business analysts, architects, and systems designers with 11,821. Other occupations included IT quality and testing professionals (3,091), cybersecurity professionals (858), and IT network professionals (310).

Ben Bilsland, partner and head of technology industry at RSM UK, expressed concern about the talent shortage and its potential impact on growth in both the short and long term. He suggested that higher employment costs have made businesses cautious about hiring, and warned that AI alone won't solve the problem as companies still need skilled staff to deploy the technology safely and successfully.

RSM is advocating for visa reform, citing comments from UK AI minister Kanishka Narayan about attracting more top engineers to Britain and making it easier for technology companies to scale domestically. Bilsland emphasized that any reforms should be expedited and made accessible to tech companies of all sizes.

Similar trends are observed in the US, where H-1B registrations for the 2026 fiscal year decreased about 25% year-on-year. The US tech industry heavily relies on this visa for specialist roles.