The UK government is preparing to introduce tighter visa restrictions for nationals from countries with high asylum claim rates, such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, as part of a broader effort to curb legal and illegal migration. According to a report first published by The Times, the Home Office is drafting new policies targeting individuals who arrive in the UK legally on study or work visas but later switch to the asylum system—a process ministers claim is being abused. The move forms part of an upcoming Immigration White Paper, which promises a sweeping overhaul of the UK’s immigration framework.
A Home Office spokesperson said the White Paper would outline “a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.” However, exact figures on overstayers remain unavailable due to a long-running review into the reliability of exit check data, last published in 2020. Because not all departures from the UK are recorded, those missing from data are not necessarily still in the country. Latest asylum statistics show over 108,000 claims were made in 2023, the highest figure since records began in 1979. Pakistani nationals accounted for the most asylum applications (10,542), followed by Sri Lankans (2,862) and Nigerians (2,841).
While international students made up a significant portion of legal migration, with 732,285 enrolled in UK institutions last year—led by India (107,480) and China (98,400)—the number of new study and work visas dropped in 2024 due to stricter rules introduced under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. These included raising the minimum salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700 and banning dependents of care workers.
Current Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, under pressure from both political opponents and voter dissatisfaction seen in recent local elections, has pledged to reduce overall migration without setting specific targets. Labour’s immigration plan includes new criminal offences to deter small boat crossings and efforts to reduce demand for foreign workers by increasing domestic training in sectors such as healthcare.
The opposition Reform UK party, which performed strongly in local elections, has called for a freeze on non-essential immigration, adding momentum to calls for stricter controls. Critics, including the Refugee Council, warn that restricting visa pathways may endanger individuals whose home country conditions deteriorate after arrival, and stress the need for a fair asylum process. Chief Executive Enver Solomon emphasized that people facing risks should still be protected and offered proper hearings.
