UK Government Targets Visa Overstayers Among International Students

The UK government has begun directly contacting international students and their dependants whose visas are close to expiring, warning them to leave the country or apply for a new visa or face removal.

The Home Office is sending personalised emails and text messages to around 130,000 individuals, emphasising the legal obligation to leave the UK if they no longer have valid permission to stay. The message states: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”

This campaign coincides with a sharp rise in asylum claims from former international students. Home Office figures show that approximately 16,000 people who initially entered the UK on student visas submitted asylum applications last year, a sixfold increase compared to 2020. 

Officials have expressed concern that many of these claims are not based on genuine protection needs and are instead used to delay removal. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended the measures, stating that while the UK will continue to support those fleeing genuine persecution, the asylum system must not be misused. 

“If nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course,” she told the BBC.

The government has also tightened access to asylum support, warning that those who do not meet strict destitution criteria will no longer be eligible. This is intended to deter unfounded claims and reduce pressure on the asylum system, which has struggled with growing demand and limited capacity.

UK immigration law requires individuals to leave the country once their visa expires unless they apply for new leave to remain. Those who overstay face serious consequences, including deportation and re-entry bans of up to ten years. Overstaying can also negatively impact future visa applications.

While the Home Office says the messaging is intended to improve compliance, critics have raised concerns about students who may be unaware of their visa status or face administrative delays through no fault of their own. Others have noted that pressures on the wider asylum system may be contributing to the urgency of enforcement efforts.

This initiative is part of a broader overhaul of immigration policy under the Labour government. Earlier this year, the post-study work period for international graduates was shortened from two years to 18 months. In addition, universities now face tougher rules on visa refusal rates and course completion standards in order to retain their sponsorship licences.