In a major policy shift that could alter the immigration landscape, the British government is preparing to impose new restrictions on visa access for citizens from countries considered high-risk for overstaying or misusing the asylum process countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nigeria.
The move stems from growing concern among ministers about individuals arriving in the UK on student or work visas and then switching to asylum claims, effectively using legal pathways as stepping stones for permanent settlement. These concerns will be addressed in detail in the forthcoming Immigration White Paper, which is expected to unveil sweeping changes designed to overhaul what the government describes as a “broken immigration system.”
The proposed changes include stricter vetting procedures and possibly new eligibility requirements for visa applicants from specific countries. Though the Home Office has not officially released a list of nationalities affected, it confirmed that ongoing reviews are based on patterns observed in recent immigration trends.
Official departure data, which would typically help identify overstayers, has not been published since 2020 due to a review of its accuracy. This absence of data makes it difficult to determine which groups are overstaying. Still, officials argue that loopholes are being exploited, especially by those who arrive with one purpose and then shift their status to remain indefinitely.
A Home Office spokesperson emphasized, “A comprehensive plan to fix our broken immigration system will be outlined in the forthcoming Immigration White Paper.” The spokesperson also noted that while the exact nationalities impacted have not been finalized, the focus remains on curbing abuses rather than reducing legitimate migration.
Professor Jonathan Portes, a senior research fellow at a leading UK think tank, said the actual impact of these restrictions on asylum numbers might be modest. “The goal here is not necessarily a large reduction in overall claims,” he said, “but rather a crackdown on those who exploit the system by entering under false pretenses—such as posing as students and then seeking asylum soon after arrival.”
The most recent figures from the Home Office show that over 108,000 people applied for asylum in the UK over the past year—marking the highest number recorded since data collection began in 1979. Among them, 9,560 were from Pakistan, representing nearly double the number from the year before.
Simultaneously, the UK remains a top destination for international students. In the academic year 2023/24, there were 732,285 foreign students enrolled in British institutions. The highest numbers came from India (107,480) and China (98,400). However, the total number of work and study visas granted in 2024 has declined compared to the previous year, a trend many attribute to pre-existing immigration reforms.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who assumed office last year, has pledged to tackle both legal and illegal migration. While he has refused to set a numerical target for net migration calling such limits “arbitrary and ineffective”—his administration is moving ahead with more nuanced reforms aimed at securing borders, reducing dependency on overseas workers, and investing in domestic training for sectors currently reliant on foreign labour.
Starmer has publicly criticized the previous Conservative government for what he describes as a deliberate failure to manage immigration. Under their tenure, net migration surged to a record 906,000 by June 2023 before dropping to 728,000 by mid-2024 a drop largely credited to policy changes introduced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Among Sunak’s reforms were the sharp rise in the salary threshold for skilled foreign workers from £26,200 to £38,700—and a controversial move to prevent care workers from bringing dependents to the UK. These measures sparked debate but also contributed to a noticeable dip in immigration numbers.
Now, Labour faces mounting pressure to deliver even tougher immigration rules. That pressure has intensified following the party’s sweeping success in the recent local elections, where it secured 677 of 1,600 seats many of them in areas previously dominated by Conservative councillors.
Labour’s pre-election manifesto had called for a suspension of non-essential immigration, with exceptions made for roles in essential services like healthcare and social care. In the wake of the local election victory, Starmer has doubled down on those pledges, acknowledging the public’s frustration and promising to accelerate immigration reform and public sector improvements.
However, human rights organizations are raising red flags. Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council cautioned that overly aggressive policies could harm individuals with legitimate protection needs. “Some people arriving on work or study visas may face real danger if they’re forced to return to unstable home countries,” he said. “These individuals deserve a fair and humane asylum process.”
Insiders suggest that plans to tighten visa rules had been in the pipeline long before the election results. The full scope of the new measures will be outlined in the upcoming Immigration White Paper, expected later this month.
A Home Office official confirmed that the government is stepping up intelligence operations to identify foreign nationals who may be exploiting the system. “We’re refining our ability to detect patterns of abuse and will act swiftly when necessary to protect the integrity of our immigration system,” the official said.
The government believes that the reforms, once enacted, will reset the balance between welcoming legitimate migrants and preventing systemic abuse. “Our Plan for Change will deliver a comprehensive strategy to restore public confidence and fix the current weaknesses in the immigration system,” the Home Office spokesperson added.
As the UK moves toward stricter immigration controls, people from countries like Sri Lanka may soon find that securing a visa is far more difficult not because of individual wrongdoing, but because of concerns over potential misuse of the system.
