Official figures have exposed a significant and growing loophole in Britain's border controls, with a record number of foreign nationals arriving on work visas subsequently claiming asylum.
Sharp Rise in Asylum Claims from Visa Holders
According to Home Office data, 13,427 asylum claims were lodged in the year to September by individuals who originally entered the UK on a work visa. This marks a dramatic increase from the 9,392 claims recorded in the previous twelve-month period.
The most recent quarterly data, covering July to September, saw the trend accelerate further. For the first time, asylum applications from foreign workers tipped over the 4,000 mark in a single quarter, reaching 4,057. This contrasts sharply with the period between 2018 and mid-2023, where such claims fluctuated between just 100 and 1,000 per quarter.
Overall, migrants who had initially arrived in Britain on any form of visa or permit—including work, study, or visitor routes—accounted for nearly 41,500 asylum applications. This group represented 38 per cent of the record 110,051 total asylum claims made in the year.
Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme Under Scrutiny
The data also indicates serious issues with the Home Office's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system. This digital scheme, intended to replace paper visas and strengthen border security, appears to be contributing to the surge in asylum claims.
Asylum applications from migrants who entered under an 'other leave' category, which includes ETA holders, jumped to 5,533 in the last year. This figure is more than double the 2,614 claims seen in the previous 12 months, a rise that corresponds with the wider rollout of the ETA scheme at the start of this year.
The system's vulnerabilities became starkly apparent with nationals from Jordan. After visa requirements were lifted for Jordanians in February 2024, the UK saw a 15-fold surge in asylum seekers from that country. UK asylum claims by Jordanians rose from just 17 in the final quarter of 2023 to 261 in the second quarter of 2024.
Home Office background papers acknowledged the problem, stating there had been a 'significant increase in Jordanian nationals who have travelled to the UK for purposes that are not permitted... such as to live, work or claim asylum'. The papers also noted an increase in individuals using an ETA to transit through the UK before claiming asylum in Ireland.
Government Forced into Reversals and Tightening Rules
In response to the abuse, the government was compelled to act. Law changes were hurriedly introduced to reimpose visa requirements on Jordanian nationals just seven months after they were brought into the ETA scheme.
Despite these concerns, the ETA programme was expanded to 27 additional countries in January, including Brazil and Mexico, and to EU nationals in April. However, the scheme had to be withdrawn for Botswana by October. The Home Office announced the reversal for 'all nationals of Botswana' on 14 October, citing a high number of visitors from the country subsequently claiming asylum since 2022.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the situation, stating: 'It's a disgrace that this Government is letting in tens of thousands of people each year who then abuse the system... We need much stricter checks before allowing people in, and the asylum system tightened up.'
A Home Office spokesman defended the UK's visa system as 'robust and effective' and stated that decisive action is taken where widespread abuse is identified. The spokesman claimed that where visit visa requirements have been reinstated, the number of asylum seekers from those countries has fallen by 93%.
