The UK government is considering tougher visa restrictions for nationals from countries identified as high-risk for overstaying or abusing the asylum system, according to plans expected to be detailed in an upcoming Immigration White Paper.
As first reported by The Times, citizens from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka may soon face more stringent requirements to obtain work or study visas. The Home Office is particularly concerned about individuals who enter the UK legally and later apply for asylum—an act officials believe is being used to circumvent the standard immigration system.
A Home Office spokesperson said the forthcoming white paper will outline a “comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.” While no recent statistics have been released on visa overstayers due to a review of exit data accuracy, officials are reportedly using intelligence-led assessments to detect patterns of abuse.
Latest figures show a notable increase in asylum claims: 99,790 people applied in the year ending September 2024, with 9,560 of those from Pakistan—the highest number by nationality and nearly double the previous year. The UK also hosted over 732,000 international students during the 2023/24 academic year, with the largest cohorts coming from India and China.
While critics, including Professor Jonathan Portes from the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, argue that such restrictions are unlikely to significantly reduce overall migration, the government insists the measures aim to curb what it views as "abuse" of asylum routes by individuals initially entering under different visa categories.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to lower both legal and illegal migration. Labour’s broader strategy includes criminalizing life-endangering practices like illegal Channel crossings, and investing in domestic workforce development to reduce dependency on migrant labor.
The government’s efforts come amid increased political pressure following Reform UK’s gains in recent local elections, a sign of mounting public dissatisfaction with current immigration policies.
Further details of the proposed changes are expected later this month in the official white paper.