The UK government is preparing to introduce tougher visa restrictions as part of a broader effort to reform the country’s immigration system. Under new plans, foreign nationals from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka may find it harder to obtain UK work and study visas. This comes amid growing concerns that some individuals are entering the UK legally, only to claim asylum shortly after arrival.
According to reports first published in The Times, ministers believe this trend is undermining the immigration process. The upcoming Immigration White Paper, due later in May 2025, will detail the Home Office’s strategy to prevent misuse of legal migration pathways.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “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. We keep the visa system under constant review.”
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While the Home Office has not published recent exit check data, figures show a record 108,000 asylum claims were made in the UK last year—the highest since records began in 1979. Of these, 10,542 were from Pakistani nationals, followed by 2,862 from Sri Lanka and 2,841 from Nigeria.
Despite the focus on asylum claims, critics argue the actual impact of these changes could be limited. Professor Jonathan Portes from the think tank UK in a Changing Europe stated that the objective appears more symbolic than numerical. “This is about reducing asylum claims that are perceived to be abusive, not about cutting immigration numbers overall,” he explained in a BBC interview.
This move comes at a time when international student numbers remain strong. In 2023/24, the UK hosted over 732,000 international students, with most coming from India and China—countries not currently affected by the proposed visa restrictions.
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The political context surrounding immigration has also intensified. Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised to reduce both legal and illegal migration. However, he has avoided setting a net migration target, arguing that previous attempts at arbitrary caps have been ineffective.
Recent data shows net migration fell from a peak of 906,000 in June 2023 to 728,000 a year later, partly due to earlier measures introduced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. These included raising the salary threshold for skilled migrants and banning care workers from bringing dependents.
Adding to the pressure, Reform UK gained momentum in the latest local elections, winning 677 council seats and advocating for a freeze on non-essential immigration. In response, Starmer vowed to move “further and faster” on immigration reform.
Human rights advocates, however, are urging caution. Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, noted that global instability can force even legal migrants to seek asylum, and stressed the importance of providing a fair asylum process.
As the UK prepares to unveil its new immigration white paper, the balance between border control and humanitarian obligation remains at the center of the debate.
