Dental nurse visa grants fall 95% after skilled worker visa changes

Sponsored visa grants for overseas dental nurses fell by 95% after the government removed the role from the skilled worker route, new Home Office figures showed.

The latest immigration statistics recorded six grants for dental nurses in Q4 2025-Q2 2026, down from 122 in the previous three quarters. Visa grants for medical and dental technicians also fell sharply, from 121 to three, while dental practitioner grants fell from 376 to 334.

The fall followed changes introduced on 22 July 2025, when several dental care professional roles became ineligible for new skilled worker sponsorship. Dental nurses, dental technicians and dental hygienists were among the roles affected.

The Home Office data covers sponsored work entry clearance visas for main applicants applying from outside the UK. It does not include in-country visa extensions or switches.

Read Dentistry’s full explainer on the skilled worker visa changes and UK dentistry.

Dental nurse visa and sponsor licence changes

For dental practices, the figures raise two issues: which roles can be sponsored, and whether employers have the systems in place to stay compliant once they sponsor overseas workers.

Anushika Brogan, head of Damira Dental Group, told Dentistry that practices should not underestimate sponsor licence compliance after her group’s licence was previously suspended following a Home Office visit.

She said: ‘We went into it blind. We didn’t know what was required of us, and we had to unpick it all after the event.’

Read the full interview and watch the video: Damira Dental Group warns practices over sponsor licence compliance.

Under Home Office rules, licensed sponsors must monitor workers’ immigration status, keep relevant records, track attendance, maintain contact details and report certain changes to UK Visas and Immigration.

A sponsor licence can be downgraded, suspended or revoked if an employer fails to meet its duties.

Dentistry HR has produced sponsor licence guidance for dental practices recruiting overseas workers, covering right to work checks, record keeping, reporting duties and ongoing reviews.

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