Aakash Chaudhary
Sat, 12 July 2025
KATHMANDU, Nepal – As the United Kingdom prepares to implement a series of more stringent immigration policies from 22nd July 2025, aimed squarely at curtailing overall net migration, a remarkable counter-narrative unfolds. Nepal continues to witness an unprecedented exodus of its youth, with a significant number still choosing the UK as their destination, navigating an increasingly challenging landscape.
This evolving dynamic underscores a palpable tension between the UK's determined efforts to control migration and the compelling socio-economic realities driving young Nepalis abroad.
The forthcoming changes to the UK's immigration system, formally outlined in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper, will notably impact work visa routes. From the aforementioned date, the minimum skill level for the Skilled Worker visa will be elevated from Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 3 (equivalent to A-levels) to RQF Level 6 (degree level).
Concurrently, the general annual salary threshold for this visa will see an increase from £38,700 to £41,700, complemented by a universal hourly minimum of £17.13. These adjustments are projected to significantly narrow the scope for overseas workers, with approximately 111 to 180 occupations slated for removal from the eligible list, as indicated by NHS Employers, the organisation representing and supporting National Health Service (NHS) trusts across England on workforce issues.
Furthermore, new overseas applications for care workers and senior care workers (occupation codes 6135 and 6136) will cease from 22nd July 2025. This follows a restriction introduced in March 2024, which already prohibited these workers from bringing dependants.
However, it is important to note that a separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the ethical recruitment of Nepali healthcare professionals, such as nurses, remains active, signed in August 2022. Unlike many other nationalities, Nepali citizens are not subject to the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, meaning they will continue to require a full visa for any travel to the UK, including short visits.
Beyond these immediate changes, the May 2025 White Paper also outlines further proposals that, while not yet enshrined in law, clearly signal the government's intended future direction, as stated by Universities UK International (UUKi) and the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). Among these is a proposal to reduce the duration of the highly popular Graduate Route visa from two years to 18 months for undergraduate and master's graduates. This specific change is currently anticipated to affect students commencing programmes from January 2026 onwards.
Another significant proposal involves extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to ten years. This move would substantially increase the financial burden on migrants, partly due to the Immigration Health Surcharge, which saw an increase to £1,035 for adults in February 2024.
The paper also suggests that dependants of students may be required to demonstrate English language ability at A1 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages - CEFR). Additionally, the government is "exploring" the imposition of a levy on the income universities derive from international student tuition fees, with the intention of reinvesting these funds into the Higher Education sector. Finally, the white paper proposes tightening compliance metrics for universities sponsoring international students, including raising required enrolment and course completion rates.
Against this backdrop of tightening regulations, Nepal is simultaneously experiencing a historic and accelerating outflow of students seeking educational opportunities abroad. A staggering 112,968 individuals obtained No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to study overseas in the fiscal year 2023/24 alone, as reported by Nepal's Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST).
Over the past seven fiscal years, more than 543,000 Nepali students have received these NOCs. This has led to an estimated outflow of Nepali Rupees (NPR) 500 billion (approximately £3 billion) in educational expenses, as reported by the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM). Education expert Kedar Bhakta Mathema has publicly stated in the media that the main reasons for this mass departure are a persistent lack of domestic employment opportunities and low wages within Nepal.
Remarkably, despite the increasing hurdles, the United Kingdom has staged a dramatic resurgence as a preferred destination for Nepali students. This reverses a decade-long decline that followed the scrapping of the Post-Study Work (PSW) visa in 2012.
Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK's national statistical office, reveals that 9,003 Nepali students were issued study visas for the UK in the year ending March 2024, marking an impressive 83% increase over the preceding year. The first quarter of 2025 saw Nepali main applicants for UK study visas surge by 122% year-on-year, with 4,733 applications, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI).
This growth is particularly noteworthy given an overall 12% decline in main applicant demand for UK study visas in 2024, with Nepal demonstrating remarkable resilience, as highlighted by ApplyBoard.
Several key factors are driving this dramatic shift. The UK's reintroduction of the two-year PSW visa in 2021 was a pivotal policy change, offering Nepali graduates invaluable time to seek employment. The UK also offers shorter Master's degrees, often completed in one year, potentially leading to reduced overall tuition fees and living costs compared to some other English-speaking countries.
Many UK universities have also simplified English proficiency requirements, accepting Medium of Instruction (MOI) letters from Nepali institutions, thereby saving students the expense and effort of standardized language tests. Furthermore, increasingly restrictive immigration policies in other traditional destinations, such as Australia and Canada, may have inadvertently redirected some Nepali students towards the UK. Australia, for instance, has introduced enrolment caps and increased financial requirements, while Canada implemented a 35% cap on new study permits for 2024 and further reductions for 2025.
However, this increased student mobility is not without significant challenges for Nepali individuals. Many students face substantial financial difficulties, often compelled to work beyond the legally permitted 20 hours per week to cover living costs. Reports indicate some students are living in "very poor and unacceptable conditions" and express regret over their decision to study in the UK.
Concerns also persist regarding the role of education agents, with an estimated 82% of UK course deposits from Nepali students facilitated by them. There are allegations that misinformation and false assurances from these consultancies are a major contributing factor to the hardships faced by students, as they frequently promise easy job opportunities and clear pathways to permanent residency that ultimately do not materialize.
Indeed, an underlying issue exacerbating these myriad challenges is Nepal's chronic political instability, a pervasive national condition that profoundly hinders its capacity to forge robust diplomatic ties and extend consistent, effective support for its burgeoning population residing abroad.
With over 30 prime ministerial changes since 1990, as consistently documented by Nepal's national press, this ceaseless political churn inevitably impedes the formulation and consistent execution of foreign policies. The Nepali government has frequently faced strong criticism for its perceived failure to adequately protect its citizens studying overseas.
Its role, often viewed as fragmented and reactive, appears largely confined to merely issuing NOCs without a thorough and proactive assessment of students' financial viability or the actual conditions and welfare provisions in their host countries, as pertinently highlighted in independent national analysis. This inherent lack of coherent, proactive support from the Nepali government, deeply rooted in its fragmented policy execution, renders these aspiring students particularly vulnerable to exploitation and hardship abroad. Such internal political dynamics therefore cast a long shadow over the efficacy of Nepal's external engagements and its ability to advocate robustly for its diaspora.
Despite the complexities of immigration and Nepal's intricate internal challenges, the broader Nepal-UK relationship maintains its historical strength, underpinned by deep-rooted connections. Diplomatic ties, notably exemplified by the enduring Gurkha connection, continue to flourish, marked by high-level visits and the commemoration of the 1923 Friendship Treaty centenary in May 2024.
The UK remains a substantial development partner for Nepal, providing over £145 million since 2024 for programmes strategically focusing on climate resilience, human development, and economic prosperity. Total trade in goods and services between the two nations reached £288 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Nepal benefits from duty-free, quota-free access for most products to the UK market. The unique British Gurkha connection, while a source of historical pride, continues to address persistent grievances regarding unequal pensions and benefits for ex-servicemen, an ongoing issue currently under review by a dedicated Bilateral Committee.
As the gates of opportunity narrow in some nations, Nepal's youth bravely navigate a complex global landscape, seeking their future despite rising tides of change.
