The United Kingdom has announced it will stop issuing study visas to nationals of Cameroon, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Sudan beginning this month. Skilled worker visas for Afghans have also been suspended.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the decision is part of efforts to curb abuse of the visa system while preserving the country’s long-standing commitment to supporting people genuinely in need.
According to the Home Office, nationals from the four countries have recorded the highest rates of asylum claims after entering the UK legally on student visas. Official figures show that asylum applications from individuals who initially arrived as students have more than tripled between 2021 and 2025, now accounting for 13% of all claims.
Mahmood described the move as an “unprecedented decision” aimed at preventing exploitation of the UK’s immigration system and restoring control at the borders. She noted that a significant number of applicants from the affected countries cited destitution in their claims, with about 16,000 currently receiving government support.
Data also indicates that since 2021, approximately 95% of Afghans who entered the UK on study visas later applied for asylum. Applications from Myanmar have increased sixteen-fold, while claims from Cameroon and Sudan have risen more than four times over the same period.
The new measures will, for the first time, deny study visas to the four countries and suspend skilled worker visas for Afghans in response to the surge in asylum claims from legal migration routes.
Additional changes include pausing certain family reunion pathways and introducing financial and integration requirements similar to those applied to British citizens. However, unaccompanied minors will continue to receive five years’ leave while broader policy reviews continue.
Legislation to enforce the restrictions through amendments to the Immigration Rules is expected to be introduced on Thursday, March 5.
The move follows earlier warnings issued in November, when the government threatened to halt visas for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless deportations resumed.
In a related step, refugee protection periods have been reduced to 30 months for adults and accompanied children applying from March 2, 2026. Those still at risk after that period may have their protection renewed, while individuals from countries deemed safe will be required to return.
