The United Kingdom has announced it will stop issuing study visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan starting this month (March 2026), citing widespread abuse of the visa system.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the decision, which also ends skilled work visas for Afghan nationals, according to sources.
The UK Home Office said the move follows data showing nationals from these four countries are the most likely to claim asylum after entering the UK on student visas.
A government spokesperson stated the action aims to protect the integrity of the immigration system.
“The government is clamping down on visa abuse so the UK can maintain its ability and proud tradition of helping those genuinely in need,” the spokesperson said.
Official figures show asylum claims from individuals who initially entered legally — including students — have more than tripled between 2021 and 2025.
People arriving on study visas now account for 13% of all asylum claims being processed.
Mahmood described the suspension as an “unprecedented decision” to refuse visas to nationals she accused of exploiting Britain’s immigration system.
“I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity,” she said. “I will restore order and control to our borders.”
The Home Office revealed that about 95% of Afghans who arrived on study visas since 2021 later applied for asylum.
Applications from Myanmar students increased sixteen-fold, while claims from Cameroon and Sudan more than quadrupled in the same period.
A higher-than-average proportion of applicants from these countries cited destitution in asylum claims, with approximately 16,000 nationals currently receiving state support.
Officials argued that allowing visa holders to remain and later claim asylum poses “an unsustainable threat to the UK’s asylum system.”
The affected countries face severe instability:
– Afghanistan remains volatile after the Taliban takeover, with renewed border tensions.
– Sudan has been in civil war since 2023, creating the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
– Cameroon battles separatist unrest in its Anglophone regions.
– Myanmar has faced civil war since the 2021 military coup.
Mahmood is expected to formalise the suspension through changes to Immigration Rules on Thursday, March 5.
The policy shift follows earlier warnings in November that the UK could suspend visas for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless those governments accepted deported nationals — a threat that reportedly led to resumed return flights.
It aligns with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tougher immigration stance amid pressure from opposition parties, including the Conservatives and Reform UK.
Last week, the government announced refugee protection periods would be reduced to 30 months to curb Channel crossings.
In 2025, 41,472 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats — nearly 5,000 more than the previous year.
Despite the crackdown, the Home Office insisted the UK remains committed to supporting vulnerable populations, ranking sixth globally in resettling refugees referred by the UN refugee agency.
