Top UK scientist warns that strict research visas are hurting the economy
One of the UK’s most respected scientists, Prof Sir Paul Nurse, says the government’s visa rules for researchers are damaging the country’s future. He believes the current system is stopping talented young scientists from coming to the UK, and this is harming both science and the economy.
Sir Paul told BBC News that visa fees in the UK are extremely high. Many early-career researchers cannot afford them, so they choose to move to other countries instead. These countries, he says, are often the UK’s economic competitors.
Some people defend the current visa system. They argue that higher visa fees help fund the National Health Service (NHS). They also say that the rules reflect public worries about high levels of immigration. But Sir Paul disagrees. He believes the UK needs scientific talent, and high visa costs are driving that talent away.
“Having expensive visa costs is like shooting yourself in the foot,” he said. “It doesn’t help us attract the people we need.”
Sir Paul recently became President of the Royal Society, the organisation that represents the UK’s leading scientists. He says that countries such as China and Singapore are actively trying to attract foreign scientists. They offer simpler visa rules, lower costs, and strong support. In contrast, the UK is creating more obstacles.
“Why do we make it harder for the very people who will help grow our economy?” he asked. “It makes no sense.”
The Nobel Prize winner describes the UK’s scientific strength as “fragile.” He says this weakness comes from three main problems:
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high visa costs
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limited research funding
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the negative message sent by strict immigration rules
Sir Paul urges the government to rethink the system. At the moment, scientists coming to the UK must pay a yearly NHS surcharge. They must also prove they have thousands of pounds in savings before they are allowed to enter the country. He believes these requirements push talented people away.
The government says the NHS surcharge helps cover healthcare costs for visa holders. It also says savings requirements ensure that newcomers can support themselves without needing public money. These points are explained in official Home Office guidance.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Policy Studies, a centre-right think tank, has published a report called Taking Back Control. It argues that the UK should reduce net migration to the “tens of thousands.”
Karl Williams, a policy expert at the think tank, agrees partly with Sir Paul. He accepts that the UK should make it easier for scientists to come. However, he says the country must also keep strict limits on overall immigration.
He points out that from 2021 to 2024, the UK saw a very large rise in immigration. He calls this “one of the most significant demographic events in modern British history.” He warns that if the government makes exceptions for one sector, such as science, other sectors will also demand exceptions.
However, current numbers show that visas issued to scientists are very small compared to total migration. In the last quarter, only 323 people received work visas in natural and social science. Mr Williams says that even if this number doubled, it would still have little effect on overall migration levels.
He argues that the UK needs a clear and balanced plan: if the country wants more scientists, it should also decide where to reduce numbers in other areas. Otherwise, he says, the system cannot work properly.
Published: 5th December 2025
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