New rules for student visas are now in effect

New rules for student visas have now come into force in the UK. The changes were announced in May 2023 to curb the flow of migration.

From January 1, 2024, the British government has restricted permits for dependent family members of students, except for postgraduate studies in a European country.

Credits: AlxeyPnferov/iStock

New rules for student visas in the UK have now come into effect

Another change that came into effect this month concerns work visas. International students cannot convert their student document to a work visa before completing their studies.

Every foreigner needs a visa to work in the UK. Prior to Brexit, as the exit from the European Union was known, European citizens (including Brazilians with dual citizenship) could freely work in the country without the need for documentation.

Brazilians do not require a visa for tourist or business trips to the UK for up to 180 days.

Changes in student visa rules

In 2023, When action is announcedThe government released data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to support this decision.

The organization estimates that between June 2021 and June 2022 the migration balance in the United Kingdom was over 500 thousand.

Almost 500,000 student visas were issued in 2022, while the number of foreign student dependents increased by 750% from 2019 to 136,000, albeit partly due to temporary factors such as the rise of UK regimes in Ukraine and Hong Kong.