UK warns that foreign students who overstay their visa risks being deported
The UK Home Office has launched a new campaign targeting international students whose visas are about to expire, warning them of potential deportation if they fail to leave the country voluntarily.
In an unprecedented move, the government has begun contacting students directly via text and email, marking the first time such communication methods are being used in immigration enforcement. So far, around 10,000 students have received these messages, with tens of thousands more expected to be contacted over the coming months.
“If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you,” reads the message sent by the Home Office. The alert also states that asylum claims “lacking merit” will be rapidly rejected.
The campaign comes in response to a significant rise in asylum applications from international students whose study visas have expired.
According to Home Office data, between July 2024 and June 2025, a total of 41,100 asylum claims were made by individuals who initially entered the UK legally, with students comprising the largest group.
