Low-skilled migrants are costing taxpayers “more than they contribute at every stage of their time in the UK”, ministers have been warned.

Analysis of a new Office for Budget Responsibility report found that the amount they cost the state – through benefits, healthcare and pensions - dwarfs the amount they pay in tax.

The Centre for Policy Studies warned that the Government must “rebalance our migration policy” towards high-skilled workers.

It comes as new Home Office figures show that the number of visa applications has fallen by 40%.

And the number of migrants applying to come to the UK on health and social care visas has fallen by 83%. The number of family members applying to come through this route has fallen to the lowest level in two and a half years, analysis shows.

Karl Williams, CPS Research Director, said: “We need to rebalance our migration policy towards those who can make a substantial positive contribution to the country’s economy, which is currently emphatically not the case.

“Even this, however, would not be enough to close the revenue gap.”

The CPS analysis of the OBR report found that higher-skilled – and average – foreign workers only begin to cost the taxpayer in their twilight years.

In a series of tough reforms announced in December, former Home Secretary James Cleverly banned overseas care workers and foreign students from bringing their family members with them to the UK.

Many were concerned the visa route was being used as a back door into the UK.

The salary threshold for skilled workers was also increased to £38,700.

The previous government aimed to slash the number of people arriving in Britain by 300,000 a year with the measures.

But new Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has paused a planned increase in the salary threshold on those hoping to bring their family members to the UK.

This means foreign nationals will only need to earn £28,000 to bring their families to the UK.

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “Migration continues to fall thanks to the changes I made to visa rules as Home Secretary.

“Today’s figures show visa applications are down almost 40% in August this year, compared to last year.

“I took the tough decisions to stop health and care workers bringing dependents, as well as international students.

“I also raised the skilled worker and family worker threshold so people who come here are contributing more to our economy.

“Labour are already reversing our changes and have no plan of their own to control migration.

“As ever, the public’s priorities are not Labour’s priorities.”

Migration and Citizenship Minister Seema Malhotra said: “The Tories repeatedly broke their promises to the public on immigration levels. James Cleverly has left the Home Office with a £6.4 billion overspend and net migration at almost 700,000.

“The Labour Government has begun work to bring net migration down.

“We’ve commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee to review sectors reliant on high international recruitment.

“We’re working across Government to link the immigration system with new training and workforce plans for British workers and stop rogue employers hiring from abroad.

“That’s how we’ll reduce net migration and equip the economy to start growing again.”

It comes as asylum seekers staying on the Bibby Stockholm barge were told they will be moved off over the coming weeks.

Revealing the future of the barge, amid Labour's pledge to process asylum seekers more quickly and move them out of temporary accommodation, the statement added: "Residents will be moved off board to receive their asylum decision and will be dispersed across the country.

"Please be assured that none of the residents will be moved from the Bibby Stockholm to addresses in the Dorset Council area."