Introduction
Visa statistics monitor international travel, migration, and economic effects by examining the volume of applications, issuances, and refusal rates across various visa categories (tourist, student, work) by nationality. This analysis uncovers global mobility patterns, national policies, and the demands of tourism and labour, serving as a valuable tool for governments, media, and researchers to comprehend societal movements and economic changes.
Through the examination of all visa statistics, governments and organisations can enhance their management of immigration policies and discern trends in global travel. The data also illustrates how the demand for visas fluctuates over time, shaped by economic circumstances, political influences, and travel limitations. For individuals, these statistics can offer insights into the likelihood of securing a visa for particular countries.
In summary, this information acts as a crucial resource for decision-making in domains such as policy formulation, international collaboration, and resource distribution.
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- In the fiscal year 2024, the United States issued an unprecedented total of 11.5 million visas, which included 8.5 million visitor visas.
- According to Visa statistics from 2023, the company holds a market capitalisation of $470.32 billion.
- Currently, there are over 3.9 billion Visa cards in circulation worldwide.
- In April 2024, the number of applications surged to 10,100, but by December, it fell to 4,200.
General Visa Statistics
- In the fiscal year 2024, the United States issued an unprecedented total of 11.5 million visas, which included 8.5 million visitor visas.
- The EB-5 program experienced a significant rise in 2024, with more than 6,000 visas granted from May to August.
- Nevertheless, only 22 EB-5 visas were issued in September 2024, likely due to the depletion of unreserved visas by the end of the fiscal year.
- Visa Statistics indicate that the number of eligible H-1B visa registrations fell by 38.6%, decreasing from 758,994 in fiscal year 2024 to 470,342 in fiscal year 2025.
- For fiscal year 2025, around 150,000 EB visas will be available, with 7.1% designated for the EB-5 program, amounting to approximately 10,650 visas.
- Monthly statistics on immigrant visa issuances are accessible for 2024 and 2025, offering comprehensive data on visa distributions by post and visa category.
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publishes monthly statistics for its asylum division.
- According to the Henley Passport Index for 2024, Singapore holds the title for the most powerful passport, granting visa-free access to 195 destinations.
- Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain share the second position, each providing access to 192 destinations.
- As per Visa Statistics, starting in mid-2025, British travellers will be required to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver to enter countries within the Schengen Area, which will bolster security protocols.
- Ireland is anticipated to welcome a record number of migrant workers in 2024, having processed nearly 21,000 working visa applications in the first five months, predominantly from India, Brazil, and the Philippines.
- Visa reported a better-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter of 2024, attributed to robust consumer spending in travel and dining sectors. Payment volumes increased by 8%, while cross-border volumes surged by 13%.
Visa Financial Statistics
- According to Visa statistics from 2023, the company holds a market capitalization of $470.32 billion.
- In 2022, Visa ranked seventh with a brand value of $191.03 billion in the global brand value rankings.
- In the financial year 2020, Visa processed approximately $11.38 trillion in transactions.
- As reported by Visa, the company’s revenue at the end of 2021 was approximately $7.059 billion.
- Currently, there are over 3.9 billion Visa cards in circulation worldwide.
- In the financial year 2021, Visa managed around 164.733 billion transactions.
- During the financial year 2022, Visa handled approximately 255.4 billion transactions.
- The total payment volume for Visa surged to $14 trillion in the financial year 2022.
- Visa earned nearly $11.475 billion from service fees in its fiscal year 2021.
- The fintech company reported net revenue of $29.3 billion in the fiscal year 2022.
- In the financial year 2021, Visa averaged 637 million transactions per day.
Visa by Application Statistics
- Visa Statistics indicate that between February 2022 and August 2023, the volume of Health and Care Worker visa applications increased from 4,100 to 18,300.
- Since August 2023, there has been a decline in monthly applications, with only 2,000 recorded in December 2024.
- From April to December 2024, a total of 21,300 Health and Care visa applications were submitted, representing a decrease of 82% compared to 2023.
- In April 2024, the number of applications surged to 10,100, but by December, it fell to 4,200.
- During the period from April to December 2024, there were 50,900 Skilled Worker visa applications, which is a 6% reduction from 2023.
Most Visited Visa Website Statistics
- Visa Statistics reported that in December 2024, travel.state.gov emerged as the most frequented website within the Immigration and Visas category.
- Users dedicated an average of 3 minutes and 38 seconds on the site, examining approximately three pages per visit.
- The bounce rate for travel.state.gov stood at 53.42%, indicating that more than half of the visitors exited the website after viewing only a single page.
- Usvisa-info.com secured the second position on the list, with an average visit duration of 7 minutes, 7.75 pages per visit, and a bounce rate of 26.59%.
- gov.au ranked third, with an average of 4 minutes spent, 3.42 pages viewed, and a bounce rate of 43.73%.
- com was positioned fourth among immigration and visa websites.
- Visitors typically remained on the site for about 1 minute and 55 seconds.
- Visitors viewed an average of 8.37 pages and spent 5 minutes and 41 seconds on the site.
- The bounce rate was recorded at 1.65 pages, with 64.25% of visitors leaving after viewing just one page.
Immigrant Visa Statistics
Golden Visa Statistics
- Portugal has granted Golden Visas to nearly 17,700 primary applicants, in addition to 24,887 family residence permits.
- As of the end of 2023, investments through Portugal’s Golden Visa program exceeded €7.3 billion.
- The issuance of 24,887 family residence permits in Portugal underscores significant inclusion of dependents.
- In 2023, the issuance of UAE Golden Visas increased to approximately 158,000.
- Latvia’s anticipated growth in 2025 indicates a rising trend in European diversification among investors.
- In 2025, Greece recorded the issuance of 17,254 visas within a single month.
- Global assessments rank Greece above Portugal regarding the overall strength of their programs.
- Between July 2024 and September 2025, Indonesia issued 1,012 permits.
Popularity By Golden Visa Countries
- In 2024, Portugal granted 4,987 Golden Visas, marking a 72% increase compared to the previous year, thereby establishing a new record.
- The UAE’s Golden Visa initiative is anticipated to issue as many as 309,285 visas by the end of 2025.
- Greece achieved the highest ranking in the 2025 Global Residence Program Index, earning a score of 73 out of 100.
- In the first half of 2025, Latvia approved 44 main applicants, positioning itself for a projected annual growth of 51%.
- Spain has completely halted its Golden Visa program as of April 3, 2025, redirecting investor interest to other opportunities.
- Italy’s Golden Visa program experienced the most significant increase in net popularity, receiving 209 applications and achieving a growth rate of 62.6%.
- In 2025, the UAE welcomed 9,800 millionaires, contributing $63 billion in investable wealth.
Golden Visa Family Reunification Statistics
- Since the inception of the program, Portugal has issued 24,887 permits to dependents of Golden Visa applicants.
- Family members account for 58% of the total 42,587 beneficiaries of the Portugal Golden Visa program.
- Portugal has issued 2,909 permits for family reunification.
- The 17,700 primary applicants from Portugal brought along 24,887 dependents, resulting in an average of 1.4 dependents per investor.
- Family reunification has contributed to a 72% increase in the approvals of Portugal Golden Visas, reaching a total of 4,987.
- Before the suspension of the program, Spain granted nearly 35,000 residency to family members.
Region-wise Issued Visa Statistics
Visa Recent Development
- In 2024, the United States granted a historic total of 612,258 global immigrant visas, marking the highest level since 2020.
- In 2024, more than 11.7 million applications for short-stay visas were submitted, reflecting a 13.6% increase compared to 2023, primarily influenced by applicants from China, Türkiye, and India.
- U.S. embassies issued upwards of 10.4 million non-immigrant visas (NIVs), achieving a record high not seen in nearly a decade. With the highest issuance occurring in March 2023.
Conclusion
Visa statistics indicate a rise in global student mobility, particularly towards the UK and US, alongside changes in leading nationalities, with India and China at the forefront but experiencing recent declines. There is also an increase in skilled and work visas, as well as notable effects from global events such as COVID-19. Which demonstrate a recovery yet with variable demands.
Trends suggest a preference for master’s level education and underscore the continuing significance for national economies, despite differing rates of application success. The key takeaways emphasize the evolving demand, an emphasis on education and skills, recovery following the pandemic, and the implications of national policies.
FAQ’s
According to data from USCIS for the fiscal year 2025 Q3 (April to June 2025), the approval rate for the O-1 visa stands at 93.8%, reflecting a decrease of 0.85% from the 94.6% approval rate noted in Q2.
14.3% of the population in the nation consists of foreign-born individuals, nearly half of whom have become naturalised citizens. Immigrants contribute significantly to the U.S. economy in various capacities, representing 23.6% of entrepreneurs, 23.6% of STEM professionals, and 15.9% of nursing staff.
Canada is known for its student-friendly policies. It continues to be a preferred destination for international students and skilled workers. With its flexible immigration options and clear guidelines for student visa approvals, Canada consistently ranks among the countries with the highest visa approval rates.
