The United Kingdom is weighing new visa restrictions targeting Nigerians and nationals of other countries amid a surge in asylum applications from people who initially arrived on legal work or study visas.

According to UK government sources and reports in The Times, the Home Office is drafting proposals to tighten visa rules for high-risk nationalities such as Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The goal, officials say, is to reduce what they view as “abuse” of the immigration system by individuals who switch to asylum claims soon after entry.

Home Office data shows that in 2024, 2,841 Nigerian nationals applied for asylum in the UK, placing them among the top three nationalities to do so. Officials argue that this trend reflects misuse of the visa system, though critics warn that the proposed crackdown could harm genuine asylum seekers.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will not hesitate to take action where we detect trends that may undermine our immigration rules. Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a clear plan to bring order to the system.”

Nigerians have also been significant contributors to the UK’s international student population in recent years, though overall student visa numbers dropped in 2024 following policy changes. The government raised the salary threshold for skilled migrants and barred care workers from bringing dependants—both of which disproportionately affected applicants from countries like Nigeria.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, under pressure from recent local election results and surging support for Reform UK, has promised to tighten immigration controls while avoiding arbitrary migration targets. Critics argue that this could disproportionately affect African migrants.

Migration expert Professor Jonathan Portes noted that while the actual number of Nigerians switching to asylum claims may be small, the move is politically significant. “This is more about addressing perceptions of abuse than drastically changing the numbers,” he told BBC Radio 4.

The UK has not published reliable data on visa overstayers since 2020, raising concerns about transparency. Meanwhile, refugee advocates warn that crackdowns must not ignore the complexities of global instability.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: “Political instability, persecution or violence can arise suddenly, and some visa holders may have no choice but to seek protection. They deserve fair treatment.”

The full details of the visa reforms and the nationalities most affected are expected in the upcoming Immigration White Paper, due later this month.

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