Nearly 89% of UK Study Visa decisions for Africans were approved, compared with 67% for visitor visas

Key Takeaways

  • The UK made 672,400 visa decisions involving African applicants in 2025.
  • Visitor visas dominated the decisions, accounting for 521,400, or about 78% of the total.
  • Study visas had the highest issue rate, with 88.5% of decisions resulting in issued visas.
  • Visitor visas had a much lower issue rate at 66.5%, despite having the largest decision volume.
  • Work visa decisions had a 71.6% issue rate, below the global work visa average of 86.5%.
  • Other visa routes had the lowest issue rate, with only 53.4% of decisions resulting in issued visas.

The UK made 672,400 visa decisions involving African applicants in 2025, with visitor visas accounting for the largest share at 521,400 decisions.

Study visas had the highest issue rate at 88.5%, followed by family at 81.9% and work at 71.6%. Visitor visas, despite dominating the number of decisions, had a lower issue rate of 66.5%, while other routes recorded the lowest rate at 53.4%.

Across major world regions, study visas had the highest issue rate in 2025, so Africa’s 88.5% study rate follows the broader pattern. But in visitor and work routes, African applicants were below the global average: 66.5% vs 79.1% for visitor visas, and 71.6% vs 86.5% for work visas.

Note: “Not issued” includes refused, withdrawn and lapsed outcomes. Study and Work include main applicants and dependants. Issue rate = issued visas as a share of total decisions.

Source:

UK Home Office, Intelpoint calculations

Period:

2025
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