Tens of thousands of international students in the United Kingdom are being directly contacted by the government with warnings to leave the country once their visas expire or risk removal.

The Home Office has launched a new campaign in response to what it described as an “alarming” rise in student visa holders attempting to remain in the UK by claiming asylum.

In what officials say is a first-of-its-kind move, the government is proactively sending texts and emails to students, cautioning them about the legal consequences of overstaying.

The initiative comes amid mounting concern in Whitehall over the use of the asylum system as a route to extend stays after studies conclude.

Home Office figures show that around 15 per cent of asylum applications in 2024 about 16,000 were lodged by individuals who initially entered the UK on student visas. While the data does not confirm how many applied after their visas expired, officials insist the trend is significant enough to trigger immediate action.

So far, about 10,000 students nearing visa expiry have received formal warnings, with a further 130,000 students and their dependants expected to be contacted in the coming months, coinciding with the autumn intake.