Close-up of a passport and Visa card, highlighting travel documentation related to immigration policies.
The UK government is considering tightening visa rules for nationals from countries like Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka as part of a broader immigration crackdown. The move targets individuals who enter legally on work or study visas but later claim asylum—a route ministers view as abuse of the system. Though statistics on overstayers haven’t been updated since 2020, over 108,000 people claimed asylum in 2023, with Pakistan leading. Critics argue the impact may be minimal and warn of unfair targeting. Labour’s upcoming Immigration White Paper is expected to reveal the full strategy, as pressure mounts on the government to curb migration after Reform UK’s recent electoral gains.