UK to restrict visa applications from Nigeria, Pakistan, others

In a bid to tighten its immigration control, the United Kingdom is reportedly considering new restrictions on visa applications from countries with high rates of visa overstays.

According to a report by The Times, the UK Home Office has identified Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as nations whose citizens are most likely to exceed their approved duration of stay and subsequently seek asylum.

The proposed measure is part of a broader immigration reform aimed at curbing abuse of the UK’s visa system. The Home Office claims that nationals from these countries often overstay their visas and then file asylum requests—many of which, when approved, enable them to remain in the UK permanently.

As a consequence, the Home Office said they may face tougher restrictions when applying to work or study in the UK.

“Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” a Home Office spokesperson said.

“To tackle abuse by foreign nationals who arrive on work and study visas and go on to claim asylum, we are building intelligence on the profile of these individuals to identify them earlier and faster.

“We keep the visa system under constant review and where we detect trends, which may undermine our immigration rules, we will not hesitate to take action.

“Under our plan for change, our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.”

Full details of the government’s plans are due to be published in the said paper later in May.

Nigerians have been significantly affected by the UK’s immigration reform plans over the past two years, especially in the areas of student visas, work permits, and visa approvals.

Following tighter rules on dependents and post-study work opportunities introduced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, international student applications to the UK have dropped drastically.

Many Nigerians have now turned to the US as a choice destination but even that option has now proven unsustainable.

US President Donald Trump has also increased tighter restrictions, warning that even students with valid visas could be deported if the US believes they do not serve her best interest.

A 2024 report showed how Nigerian visa rejection rates to the UK rose from about 1 in 31 applications in late 2022 to 1 in 8 by late 2023.

This resulted in a 63 percent decrease in visas issued to Nigerians compared to the previous year.

The financial burden of non-refundable fees combined with higher rejection rates have intensified pressure on Nigerian applicants.