The Home Office has announced that the United Kingdom will stop issuing student visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.
In addition, skilled work visas for Afghan nationals will also be suspended, the Home Office said in a statement on Tuesday. The move is aimed at curbing the number of asylum seekers who enter Britain through legal visa routes before lodging protection claims.
The Home Office stated that an “emergency brake” on visas has been imposed for the first time on nationals from the four countries following a surge in asylum claims from individuals who initially arrived through legal channels.
Since 2021, nearly 135,000 people have entered the UK legally on visas and subsequently applied for asylum, according to official figures. Although student asylum claims were reduced by 20 percent in 2025, authorities said further action was required as individuals arriving on study visas still account for 13 percent of total asylum claims.
Applications for asylum from students originating from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan and Myanmar have increased by more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025, the Home Office noted.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was taking the “unprecedented decision” to refuse visas to nationals believed to be exploiting the country’s immigration system.
Tightened asylum rules
The announcement follows the implementation of stricter asylum regulations in the UK. Under the new framework, the Home Office will review the refugee status of adults and their accompanying children every 30 months.
Refugees whose home countries are later considered safe will be expected to return. Previously, individuals granted refugee status were given five years’ leave to remain and could subsequently apply for indefinite leave and pursue citizenship.
Unaccompanied children will continue to receive five years’ leave while a long-term policy is developed for that group. Asylum seekers already in the UK will continue to be assessed under the previous rules.
The revised approach is modelled on the system in Denmark, which has one of Europe’s strictest asylum and immigration frameworks, with refugee status subject to review every two years since 2015.
Migration remains a key issue in British politics, with the Reform UK gaining support in opinion polls on an anti-migration platform.
