Reports emerging on Tuesday have revealed that a United Kingdom, UK visa restrictions policy has targeted several countries, with Nigeria among the select countries facing potential restrictions.
The UK Home Office is said to be targeting nationalities deemed most likely to overstay their visas or claim asylum, aiming to curb legal migration.
It was gathered that this reported move, which could potentially affect countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, could reshape opportunities for Nigerians seeking to work or study in the UK.
According to the reports, the proposed UK visa restrictions are part of a broader crackdown initiated by the Home Office to address concerns over immigration compliance.
Reports indicate that the policy will focus on reducing visa approvals for individuals from countries with high rates of overstaying or asylum applications.
A source who spoke with the press stated: “Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.
“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.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the proposed UK visa restrictions policy could affect a lot of Nigerians.
Before now, 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.
Measures including higher salary thresholds for skilled workers and limits on dependents, have already led to a 37% drop in visa applications from Nigeria and other affected countries in 2025.
The proposed UK visa restrictions policy is expected to make it more challenging for Nigerians to secure work or study visas.
The implications of the UK visa restrictions could also extend beyond individual applicants to the broader Nigeria-UK relationship. Diplomatic tensions could arise if the restrictions are perceived as unfair.
Recall that already, 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 per cent decrease in visas issued to Nigerians compared to the previous year.
The UK’s visa processing has proven lucrative, with over ₦40 billion ($34 million) earned from 225,000 Nigerian applications between June 2023 and June 2024, despite non-refunded fees for rejected applications.
