UK Warns Visa Restrictions on Pakistan, India, and Others

UK visa restrictions on Pakistan and India

Britain’s new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has threatened to limit visas for nations that resist the repatriation of migrants.

The countries that were previously marked as uncooperative are Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, and the Gambia.

Mahmood made the warning while participating in her first international engagement after her appointment as Home Secretary last week.

She focused on border security as her top priority and called on nations to take back citizens who were discovered illegally staying in the UK.

Increased Fear of Migration

UK visa restrictions on Pakistan and India, The warning points to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government’s need to address increasing small-boat arrivals into the UK.

Statistics by the Home Office indicate that more than 30,000 individuals have arrived through small boats in 2025 so far.

The officials are considering restrictions on visas and new measures to stop abuse of the immigration system.

Earlier reports had indicated that the Home Office had already tightened scrutiny for visa applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.

Officially, the authorities mentioned the fear of overstaying visas and rising asylum applications from the mentioned countries.

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Consequences of Tighter Rules

Latest figures show a 37 percent fall in total visa applications from last year.

The drop comes after stricter immigration measures implemented in 2024 in the UK government’s overhaul.

Mahmood called the current rate of illegal migration “unacceptable” and vowed to take action right away to stem the issue.