According to sources within The Times newspaper, the UK government is poised to announce significant changes in an Immigration White Paper scheduled for publication later this month. These proposed changes include the imposition of direct restrictions on certain nationals applying for work and study visas.

As we reported last month, the number of UK visa applications saw a substantial drop of over a third (37%), falling to 772,200 applicants in the year to March 2025. In the preceding 12 months, nearly 1.24 million visa applications were received.

This decline in applications was not unexpected. The previous Conservative government had introduced a series of changes to the Immigration Rules specifically designed to reduce peak levels of net migration. These measures included a ban on overseas care workers and students bringing family members to the UK, and a significant 48% increase in the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which now stands at £38,700.

However, while UK work visa applications have fallen significantly, asylum applications continue to rise, reaching record levels. These figures include a growing number of claimants who initially arrive in the country legally on work or study visas and subsequently submit an application for asylum.

Increased scrutiny

The report suggests that Labour’s White Paper will therefore include provisions to reject visa applications from individuals who fit the profile of those likely to overstay and claim asylum later. Nationals from certain countries with high asylum claim rates are expected to face increased scrutiny. While full details of the new approach are yet to be disclosed, application filings from nationals of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka could be subject to greater examination.

A Home Office spokesperson commented: “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.”

Last year, over 108,000 people claimed asylum in the UK. These figures included over 20,000 applications combined from Pakistani, Nigerian, and Sri Lankan nationals.

The latest Home Office statistics are available here. This monthly entry clearance visa data covers UK visa applications for people arriving in the country for work, study, and family reasons.