The South Asian country accounts for one in 10 of all asylum claims, the highest of any nation.
Pakistan submitted over 11,000 asylum applications to the UK (Image: Getty)
The UK’s immigration system is being “gamed from the inside” as Pakistanis exploit visa loopholes to lodge asylum claims in Britain. New data shows that holiday, work and student visas are being exploited, as nearly 10,000 Pakistanis entered the UK on these last year before switching to claim asylum in a bid to gain permanent residency. Government data from 2024 shows that Pakistan is top of the leader board for asylum claims from countries in which migrants seek refugee status, accounting for one in 10.
In total, over 11,000 asylum applications were lodged from Pakistanis, which is a five-fold increase since 2022. The data, obtained by the Conservative Party through a Freedom of Information request, revealed that 40,739 migrants claimed asylum in Britain in 2024 after arriving on visas they had secured or other forms of leave. The breakdown of this data shows that, of this group, 16,000 migrants entered as students, 11,400 had skilled worker visas and 9,400 were visitors.
Pakistan topped the table for student visa switches (Image: Getty)
This figure shows that 37.6% of asylum applications in the UK in 2024 were from people who had already entered the UK through legal routes.
Pakistan scored high up across all categories of visas, with 9,783 asylum claims from Pakistani nationals who switched to asylum claims. Of these, 5,888 were on student visas, which was more than the total of India and Bangladesh claims combined.
The South Asian country took second place for visitor visa holders, with 902 switching to seek asylum. China took the top spot with 1,094. Pakistan was also second for work visa switches to asylum, with 2,578 to Bangladesh’s 3,268.
Jamie Jenkins, former head of health and employment statistics at the Office for National Statistics, told The Telegraph: “With 162,000 visas granted to Pakistani nationals in the past year, the numbers reveal a clear loophole: the UK’s generous visa system is feeding directly into record asylum claims.”
He added: “The rise of Pakistan in the asylum league tables exposes a truth politicians often avoid: Britain’s migration system isn’t just failing at the borders – it’s failing within them. Yes, small boats matter. But ‘legal entry, then asylum claim’ shows how the system is being gamed from inside.
“This is not a problem that photo-ops in Dover or slogans about dinghies can solve. It requires a hard look at visa policy, fast-track removals for unfounded claims and honesty with the public about the true scale of asylum pressures.”
Responding to the data, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: “Britain’s broken border and visa system is being openly abused. Tens of thousands are walking straight through the front door, exploiting legal visas and staying for good. It’s a complete failure.
“Migration has been far too high for far too long. Tough, decisive action is now needed to stop this exploitation once and for all. Asylum cannot be used as a back-door route for people who came here to study and then refuse to leave when their visa ends.”
