London: The UK government has announced a ban on study visas for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, citing a surge in asylum applications from these countries. The measure, described as an emergency brake, is part of a wider effort to curb misuse of legal immigration routes.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move is aimed at preventing exploitation of the visa system. “Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused. I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for nationals seeking to exploit our generosity and restore control to our borders,” she said.
The ban will come into effect on March 26 through a change in immigration rules, alongside new legislation introduced in Parliament this week. Afghan nationals will also face a skilled worker visa ban following a significant increase in asylum claims.
Official Home Office data shows asylum claims by students from the four countries rose more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025. Claims by Afghan students now outnumber the visas issued, while Myanmar students’ claims have grown sixteen-fold. Claims from Cameroon and Sudan increased by over 330 percent in the same period.
For the first time, study visas from four countries, and skilled worker visas for Afghans, will be denied after asylum claims from legal routes have more than trebled.
We will never turn our back on those fleeing danger, but we must tackle abuse of our visa system. pic.twitter.com/2GF8AuDMuu
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 4, 2026
The Home Office said asylum support costs exceed £4 billion annually, with nearly 16,000 people from these countries currently receiving public assistance, including more than 6,000 housed in hotels. In total, 133,760 people have claimed asylum after arriving through legal routes in the past five years.
The government noted that action has already reduced student asylum claims by 20 percent in 2025 but stressed that more stringent measures are necessary. Students arriving on study visas still account for 13 per cent of all asylum claims.
This announcement follows Mahmood’s earlier plan to make UK asylum status temporary, with reviews after 30 months. Officials said the combined measures aim to maintain the UK’s commitment to genuine refugees while preventing misuse of immigration channels.
