Thousands of non-European migrants are grabbing 'EU visas' for the UK

By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 00:08, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 00:08, 13 April 2026 Thousands of migrants from countries including India and Pakistan came to Britain last year through an EU visa scheme that critics warn is a 'backdoor' for mass migration. Some 6,709 people were issued visas through the European Settlement Scheme in 2025 who were not from Europe - despite it being almost five years after the deadline to apply. This includes 1,124 visas issued to Indian nationals, 855 to Somali citizens and 791 to Pakistani nationals, official figures show. This comes despite the scheme - which was designed to allow Europeans who were living in Britain to stay after Brexit - technically having a deadline to apply of June 2021. There were 78,785 applications for visas through the EUSS in the three years to December 2025 from people who were not from Europe - with 33,658 being granted. During this period 6,656 Indian nationals, 5,413 Pakistani citizens and 3,768 Somali nationals came to the UK through the EU visa scheme. Virtually all of these visas were issued through the EUSS 'Family Permit' - meaning they are the spouse, 'durable partner', dependent child or dependent parent of an EU citizen in the UK. Despite the deadline for 'most people' to apply to the EUSS being June 30, 2021, partners or family members from anywhere in the world can join EU citizens living in the UK indefinitely providing they can show they had a relationship before the UK left the EU. Some 6,709 people were issued visas through the European Settlement Scheme in 2025 who were not from Europe A government source alerted the Mail to the figures and said it was 'insane' that migrants from outside Europe still are coming to the UK via this route. The revelations have led to calls for an investigation into abuses of the scheme and for the 'backdoor' to Britain to finally be wound down five years after the technical deadline to apply. Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said the EUSS has been 'beset with issues since it first launched' and is still a 'huge driver of long-term migration into Britain'. He said: 'There is a pressing need for a real inquiry into some of the abuse and untoward practices that have been allowed to proliferate as a result of this scheme. 'It has been nearly five years since the deadline for most applications under the scheme and it is now time that it was closed for good.' There have been documented cases of abuse of the scheme - including a Ghanaian woman who was allowed to stay in Britain through the EUSS despite not attending her own wedding. And a BBC investigation found couples had fraudulently exploited the scheme by entering into a sham marriage to extend residency rights to a non-EU bogus partner - with 365 discovered between March 2018 and September 2021. By the end of September 2025, 6.4million people in total had applied to EUSS, including 531,000 non-European family members, according to the Migration Observatory at Oxford University. The Home Office said there is 'no evidence' the scheme is being abused by non-European migrants Separate data also shows that people who came to Britain through the EUSS make up a significant proportion of those claiming benefits. Figures published by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) in February show that 9.2 per cent of those claiming Universal Credit in the UK have EUSS settled status. Reform UK's home office spokesman Zia Yusuf said the scheme 'has long been a scam on the British people'. He added: 'It is a backdoor for Somalis, Pakistanis and Indians among others to claim benefits in the UK. The government must explain why this scheme is still open five years after it was supposed to close. 'Britain spent £15billion in the last 18 months on Universal Credit welfare for foreign nationals. The vast majority went to EU Settled Status [migrants]... Reform is the only party that will terminate all of it.' It comes following revelations that migrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East have entered Britain under a government scheme that offers free visas for Ukrainian refugees. Nearly 3,500 visas have been granted to people from 112 countries, including Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, the Palestinian territories and Nigeria, under two separate schemes giving refuge to Ukrainians fleeing Russia's full-scale invasion. The Home Office said the terms of the EUSS were established in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, signed under the previous government, and that the UK is legally required to continue accepting late applications under the deal. A Home Office spokesman said: 'We have found no evidence that the scheme is being abused in this way. 'The government is doing everything in its power to reduce net migration.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? 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