A sharp increase in asylum claims by Pakistani nationals has exposed major weaknesses in the UK’s immigration system. British media and officials warned that legal visas are increasingly being used as a “back door” to residency.
New data shows Pakistanis now make up the largest group of asylum seekers in the UK. Last year, 11,234 Pakistanis applied for political asylum, a fivefold rise since 2022. In total, 40,739 migrants lodged asylum claims after entering on legal visas.
Pakistan topped asylum statistics across all major visa categories, including student, work, and visitor routes. British media reports show Pakistani nationals were the only nationality appearing in the top three across all temporary visa types before switching to asylum.
Freedom of Information requests obtained by the Conservative Party reveal that one in ten asylum claims in the UK came from Pakistan. Most entered legally: 9,783 Pakistani nationals switched from student, work, or visitor visas to asylum, representing 24% of all visa-to-asylum switches in 2024.
Breakdown of these switches shows 5,888 arrived on student visas, 2,578 on work visas, and 902 on visit visas. Pakistan’s student visa switches alone exceeded the combined totals of India and Bangladesh.
British media highlighted that Pakistanis exploited loopholes in UK immigration rules more than any other nationality. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the data proof of a “broken border and visa system,” adding, “Tens of thousands are exploiting legal visas and staying for good.”
Experts said the surge reflects systemic flaws. Jamie Jenkins, former ONS statistics head, noted that generous visa issuance feeds directly into rising asylum claims. 162,000 visas were granted to Pakistani nationals last year, making Pakistan one of the UK’s largest visa recipient countries.
The Home Office recently introduced stricter rules. Illegal entrants, including visa overstayers, must wait 20 years for settlement. Asylum claims will be reviewed every 30 months, with repatriation possible if the home country is deemed safe.
British media noted most Pakistanis sought political asylum, although Pakistan maintains its citizens are not under state persecution. Officials warned that the rise underscores the urgent need to reform both the visa and asylum systems.
