The UK government is reportedly considering restricting student visa applications from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, where nationals are said to be more likely to claim asylum after arrival, according to official sources.
This proposal forms part of a broader strategy to reduce net migration, which reached 728,000 in the year ending June 2024.
A new Immigration White Paper, expected to be released next week, will set out comprehensive reforms to overhaul the immigration system and respond to public concerns following Labour’s poor performance in recent local elections.
According to government data, 16,000 of the 108,000 asylum seekers last year initially entered the UK on student visas.
While the government has not released nationality-specific data on these asylum claimants, officials have identified Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka as major countries of origin among those who switch visa categories.
The Home Office said the upcoming plan would restore order to a “broken immigration system.” Meanwhile, Labour MP Jo White, representing Red Wall constituencies, has called for firmer action to reduce migration, highlighting rising voter dissatisfaction: “The government must take stronger action to curb migration.”
Immigration continues to be a divisive political issue in Britain and was a driving force behind the 2016 Brexit referendum.
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