The Home Office has formally announced that its next monthly data set on entry-clearance visa applications will be published on 12 February 2026 at 09:30. (gov.uk) The release, covering applications lodged in January, will provide an early glimpse into how recent policy changes—ranging from the Skilled Worker salary hike to the looming Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)—are affecting demand across work, study and family routes.
Although the statistical note is a routine fixture on the government calendar, mobility specialists are watching this edition closely. December’s figures showed a 14 % month-on-month dip in Skilled Worker applications, which many HR teams attributed to employers rushing to lodge certificates of sponsorship before the £1,320 Immigration Skills Charge took effect on 16 December 2025. Whether that slowdown persists into January will influence workforce-planning decisions for the new financial year.
![Home Office sets 12 February release for January 2026 visa statistics]()
Universities are similarly anxious. The Graduate Route remains under review, and January intakes for taught master’s programmes have traditionally relied on a spike in last-minute study-visa approvals. Any sharp fall-off could feed into budget projections at a time when higher-education finances are already tight.
For global-mobility managers, the upcoming release provides a data point that can validate anecdotal feedback from recruiters and assignees. Early access to headline numbers can help firms adjust sponsorship allocations, forecast compliance workloads and refine communication with relocating employees.
The data will be available in CSV and interactive dashboard formats, allowing businesses to slice trends by nationality, route and decision outcome. Analysts advise downloading the raw CSV files promptly, as the Home Office sometimes adjusts historic series after quality assurance, potentially shifting month-on-month comparisons.
Although the statistical note is a routine fixture on the government calendar, mobility specialists are watching this edition closely. December’s figures showed a 14 % month-on-month dip in Skilled Worker applications, which many HR teams attributed to employers rushing to lodge certificates of sponsorship before the £1,320 Immigration Skills Charge took effect on 16 December 2025. Whether that slowdown persists into January will influence workforce-planning decisions for the new financial year.
Universities are similarly anxious. The Graduate Route remains under review, and January intakes for taught master’s programmes have traditionally relied on a spike in last-minute study-visa approvals. Any sharp fall-off could feed into budget projections at a time when higher-education finances are already tight.
For global-mobility managers, the upcoming release provides a data point that can validate anecdotal feedback from recruiters and assignees. Early access to headline numbers can help firms adjust sponsorship allocations, forecast compliance workloads and refine communication with relocating employees.
The data will be available in CSV and interactive dashboard formats, allowing businesses to slice trends by nationality, route and decision outcome. Analysts advise downloading the raw CSV files promptly, as the Home Office sometimes adjusts historic series after quality assurance, potentially shifting month-on-month comparisons.
Source: GOV.UK – Home Office
