The United Kingdom is considering stricter visa rules for Nigerian nationals as part of a broader immigration clampdown aimed at curbing what officials describe as abuse of the asylum system.
According to a report by The Times, Nigeria is among a list of countries—including Pakistan and Sri Lanka—whose citizens may soon face tougher requirements when applying for work or study visas to the UK.
The move comes amid concerns within the UK Home Office that a growing number of legal migrants, particularly from these countries, later submit asylum claims in an attempt to remain permanently.
Although official statistics on visa overstaying have not been released since 2020 due to a review of exit check data, ministers say intelligence suggests a pattern of abuse by some foreign nationals who switch from temporary visas to asylum claims once inside the UK.
A Home Office spokesperson stated: “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.”
The proposed policy shift is expected to be detailed in an upcoming Immigration White Paper, which the Home Office says will present a “comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.”
Nigerians have consistently ranked among the top non-EU nationalities granted UK visas for study, work, and family reunification in recent years.
However, British authorities now claim that some applicants may be misusing these legitimate channels as a backdoor to asylum.
Professor Jonathan Portes, a senior fellow at UK in a Changing Europe, acknowledged the political motives behind the move but questioned its likely effectiveness.
“The impact that restricting visas would have on the number of asylum applications is likely to be quite small.
“This is more about addressing perceptions of abuse than significantly altering migration figures,” he said in a BBC interview.
The UK’s net migration figures remain high, with 728,000 recorded in the year to June 2024—down from 906,000 the previous year.
The fall has been attributed in part to policies introduced under the Conservative government, including raising the salary threshold for skilled workers and banning care workers from bringing dependants.
Labour, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has promised further reforms to cut both legal and illegal migration.
The party is under increasing pressure to deliver results, especially following the rise of the anti-immigration Reform UK party in recent local elections.
The proposed visa restrictions could have far-reaching consequences for Nigerian students and professionals seeking opportunities in the UK.