UK's Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra has defended her government's immigration proposals during a visit to India, while expressing concern about a rise in foreign students seeking asylum at the end of their studies.
Under the new plans, some migrants could have to wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently in the UK and the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to 10 years.
The proposals will apply to an estimated 2.6 million people who arrived in the country since 2021. They have drawn criticism from some quarters, including a few Labour MPs, even though the Conservatives gave the measures a cautious welcome.
The reforms are in line with what countries around the world do to stop the abuse of their immigration systems, Malhotra told the BBC in the southern Indian city of Chennai, adding that there was a very strong message we also send, which is that we welcome those coming legally.
According to Malhotra, around 16,000 international students from across the globe had applied for asylum in the UK last year after completing their courses, which she asserted was evidence of abuse of legal migration routes.
A further 14,800 students sought asylum this year up until June 2025, latest Home Office figures indicate. It remains unclear how many of them were Indian nationals.
Malhotra stated, We've seen visa abuse in the case of legal routes, where people have gone legally and then sought to overstay when their visas weren't extended.
She added, If you see that level of abuse, it undermines your immigration system. It undermines public confidence, and the fairness and control people expect.
India continues to be one of the UK's largest sources of international students; however, demand appears to be cooling. The number of Indian students heading to the UK has declined by 11% from last year as stricter immigration rules come into effect. This has left UK universities, which heavily rely on foreign students, in a precarious financial situation.
Data from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford shows that India was the top country of origin for foreign students in the UK in 2023-2024, comprising 25% of arrivals, followed closely by China at 23% and Nigeria at 8%.
Malhotra remarked that while Britain very much welcomes Indian students, her government is collaborating with universities to ensure that students are genuine.
The recently concluded free trade agreement (FTA) between the UK and India is expected to encourage UK universities to establish local campuses in India, with Liverpool University announcing plans to set up a campus in Bengaluru by 2026. The FTA, signed in July, is projected to add £4.8bn to the UK's GDP annually and increase trade between the two nations by £25.5bn.
Malhotra further noted that as part of the education chapter in the deal, nine UK universities have been authorized to establish campuses throughout India.
Despite these broader trade ambitions, the domestic political landscape has become increasingly stringent regarding migration. During a visit to India in October, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK would not relax visa regulations for Indian nationals, despite demands from Delhi for easier mobility in exchange for trade concessions.
Malhotra dismissed concerns that the UK desires deeper trade ties while restricting entry for Indian professionals, highlighting that nearly half a million visas were granted to Indian nationals last year across various categories, including work, study, and tourism.
As the UK pivots toward a contribution-based immigration system, Malhotra emphasized that settlement and long-term stay will depend on a person's economic contributions rather than the duration of their stay.
These proposed changes in the UK's immigration framework have faced criticisms from Labour MPs and members of the House of Lords, especially regarding their potential effects on international recruitment in critical sectors like healthcare and social services.
While the reforms remain under review, when asked about settlement options for migrant professionals such as nurses and care workers, Malhotra indicated, we are expanding routes for those with skills in areas that the UK requires.
A survey from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) forewarned that nearly 50,000 nurses could depart the UK if the government proceeds with its immigration proposals, noting that over 200,000 internationally educated nursing staff comprise about 25% of the UK's total nursing workforce of 794,000.
Several investigations, including those by the BBC, reveal that many of these nurses and care workers hail from India and have become victims of cross-border visa scams, resulting in significant financial losses. However, Malhotra asserted that the UK is intensifying its efforts to protect individuals from such exploitation and is collaborating with law enforcement in countries like India to share intelligence and dismantle such networks.
