Business Desk 
May 06, 2025
The UK government is set to restrict student visa applications from Pakistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and other nations where applicants are viewed as more likely to claim asylum.
This way the UK government will cut net migration, which stood at 728,000 individuals in the period up to June last year, official statistics show.
UK visa restricted for Pakistanis
The action comes amid public pressure for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party after their loss of support in local elections.
Voters are afraid of immigration, legal and illegal, and demand firmer border control. These fears have compelled the government to become tougher, particularly on the student visa system.
A new immigration white paper will be published next week, which will set out a comprehensive plan to repair what officials describe as a "broken immigration system."
Moreover, the Home Office confirmed the paper will detail how the government plans to cut migration levels and prevent the abuse of student and work visas.
Government statistics indicate that of 108,000 asylum applications last year, approximately 16,000 were lodged by individuals who had initially entered the UK on student visas.
Nationalities were not reported, but authorities indicate nationals from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka are among the top likely to make asylum claims following entry on student, work, or tourist visas.
