The British government is preparing to impose restrictions on student visa applications from countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria, citing concerns over increasing asylum claims after arrival in the UK.

According to official sources, this move is part of the Keir Starmer-led government’s broader effort to reduce the UK’s annual net migration, which reached a record 728,000 in the year ending June 2024.

A new policy document, expected to be published this week as a White Paper, will outline specific steps the UK government plans to take in tightening visa rules. One of the primary concerns is that a significant portion of international students transition into asylum seekers after arriving on legitimate student or visitor visas.

Data shows that of the 108,000 asylum applications filed in the UK last year, at least 16,000 were from individuals who initially entered the country on student visas. The majority of these applicants reportedly came from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.

“People from Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka were the most likely to claim asylum in Britain after arriving on a work, student or a visitor visa,” according to British government sources.

This potential restriction is likely to impact thousands of Pakistani students who view the UK as a top destination for higher education. For many, student or visitor visas offer a route not only to academic institutions but also a chance to seek long-term settlement through asylum claims.

Pakistanis have previously been criticized for misusing visa pathways in several Western nations, including the UK, US, and Canada, often transitioning from temporary visas to asylum applications to obtain permanent residency.