The United Kingdom has begun directly warning international students to leave the country once their visas expire or face deportation.
According to a BBC report, the UK Home Office has launched a new campaign aimed at curbing what it describes as a growing trend of students attempting to remain in the country by applying for asylum.
For the first time, thousands of students are being contacted through text messages and emails with formal reminders of the consequences of overstaying their visas.
The messages read:
“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
Rising Student Asylum Applications
Official figures show that around 15% of asylum applications in 2024—about 16,000 cases—came from people who initially entered the UK on student visas. Although it is unclear how many of these were filed after visas had expired, the government says the trend is worrying enough to require urgent action.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some students are applying for asylum “even when nothing has changed in their home country.” She stressed that while the UK will continue to support genuine refugees, students should not misuse the asylum system after completing their studies.
Who Is Affected?
Already, about 10,000 students whose visas are close to expiring have received direct warnings. A further 130,000 students and their families are expected to be contacted in the coming months, especially as new academic sessions begin this autumn.
The UK government has also reduced the post-study visa period from two years to 18 months, giving graduates less time to remain in the country after completing their courses.
Immigration Crackdown
The student visa warning is part of broader immigration reforms by the Labour government. In May, the Home Office announced stricter conditions for universities sponsoring international students. Schools now face tighter checks on visa refusals and course completion rates.
While public attention often focuses on migrants crossing the Channel by boat, ministers say they are equally concerned about legal entrants like students who later seek asylum.
Out of 108,000 asylum applications made in the UK last year, about 40,000 came from people who initially entered legally—with student visa holders making up the largest share.
What It Means for African Students
For many African students in the UK, the new measures highlight the importance of complying with visa rules. Those wishing to stay after their studies must explore legitimate pathways, such as skilled worker visas, rather than risking deportation through unmerited asylum claims.
The Home Secretary insisted that fixing the UK’s asylum system requires “tackling every single part of it”—including cases involving students.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
