The United Kingdom is preparing to impose new restrictions on visa applications from nationals of countries considered high-risk for overstaying or claiming asylum, with Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka among those targeted, according to a report by The Times.
The planned changes, which will reportedly be detailed in the upcoming Immigration White Paper, are part of the UK government’s broader effort to reduce net migration numbers.
The Home Office has indicated it is compiling data and building intelligence on applicants who arrive on work and study visas but later seek asylum. A spokesperson stated, “We are identifying patterns among individuals most likely to abuse the system and will act swiftly where trends undermine immigration rules.”
The UK government emphasized that the visa system is under ongoing scrutiny and that any misuse will prompt immediate reforms.
The opposition Labour Party also reaffirmed its intention to reduce net migration. In its manifesto, the party stressed that migration “must be properly controlled and managed,” adding that unchecked immigration undermines incentives for local workforce development.
Recent Home Office statistics show a substantial decrease in visa applications. Between March 2024 and March 2025, approximately 772,200 individuals applied for work, study, or family visas—a 37% drop compared to nearly 1.24 million the previous year.
This decline reflects changes enacted by the Conservative government in early 2024, including a prohibition on care workers and international students bringing dependents, as well as a significant increase in the salary threshold for skilled worker visas, now set at £38,700.
The upcoming white paper is expected to outline further plans for reforming the UK’s immigration system in response to growing domestic pressure to restore public confidence and reduce migration levels.
