The UK government is planning to introduce tougher visa restrictions for nationals from countries perceived as high risk for overstaying and making asylum claims, as part of a wider immigration crackdown.
According to reports by The Times, the proposed changes would target individuals from countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, who arrive in the UK legally on work or study visas but later apply for asylum, often in an attempt to remain in the country permanently.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that the forthcoming Immigration White Paper, expected later in May, will outline a comprehensive strategy to address what it describes as a “broken immigration system.”
“To tackle abuse by foreign nationals who arrive on work and study visas and go on to claim asylum, we are building intelligence on the profile of these individuals to identify them earlier and faster,” the spokesperson said.
Although official data on visa overstaying has not been published since 2020, due to a review into the accuracy of exit checks, concerns have grown about individuals allegedly misusing legal entry routes to seek asylum.
Latest Home Office statistics show a record 108,000 asylum applications were lodged in the UK in 2023—the highest figure since records began in 1979. Among them were 10,542 applications from Pakistani nationals, the highest from any country, followed by 2,862 from Sri Lankans and 2,841 from Nigerians.
Despite the concerns, immigration experts argue that such changes may only have a limited effect on overall asylum numbers. Professor Jonathan Portes, of the think tank UK in a Changing Europe, said the proposals were more symbolic than practical.
“The impact on asylum numbers is likely to be quite small,” he told BBC Radio 4. “The government is trying to reduce perceived abuse by individuals who switch from study or work visas to asylum claims.”
In 2023/24, 732,285 international students were recorded in the UK, with the largest numbers coming from India (107,480) and China (98,400). However, both student and work visa numbers have declined in 2024, partly due to new immigration policies.
Efforts to reduce migration intensified under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who raised the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers from £26,200 to £38,700 and banned care workers from bringing family members to the UK.
Net migration peaked at 906,000 in the year to June 2023 but fell to 728,000 by June 2024. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to bring both legal and illegal migration down but has refrained from setting a specific target, criticizing arbitrary caps as ineffective.
Labour’s broader immigration reform agenda includes criminalizing those who endanger lives through small boat crossings and investing in local training to reduce the UK’s dependency on foreign workers.
The issue has gained political urgency following Reform UK’s strong showing in recent local elections, where the party secured 677 council seats, largely at the expense of the Conservatives. Reform has called for a freeze on “non-essential immigration,” while still allowing essential workers like healthcare professionals to enter the UK.
As the government prepares to unveil its full immigration strategy, refugee advocates have warned against blanket restrictions. Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, emphasized that some individuals on work or study visas may have legitimate reasons to seek asylum if conditions in their home countries deteriorate.
“It is right that they are protected from harm and given a fair hearing in the asylum system,” he said.
More detailed measures will be released in the Immigration White Paper later this month.
