UK imposes study visa bans on Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan

The United Kingdom has imposed an unprecedented ban on student visas for nationals of Afghanistan , Cameroon , Myanmar and Sudan , citing a sharp rise in asylum claims from people who initially entered the country through legal visa routes.

The measure, described by the government as an “emergency brake”, was announced by Shabana Mahmood , the UK Home Secretary, as part of a broader overhaul of immigration policy. The restriction will also suspend skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals , following evidence that asylum claims from Afghans arriving on work visas now exceed the number of visas issued. The new rules will be introduced through changes to Immigration Rules and are expected to come into force on March 26.

According to data released by the UK Home Office , asylum applications by students from the four countries increased by more than 470 per cent between 2021 and 2025 , making them among the nationalities most likely to seek asylum after arriving on study visas. Officials said asylum claims from individuals entering through legal migration routes have more than trebled since 2021 and accounted for about 39 per cent of nearly 100,000 asylum applications last year .

Government figures also show that between 2021 and the year ending September 2025, 95 per cent of Afghan students who received study visas later applied for asylum , while claims by students from Myanmar rose 16-fold and those from Cameroon and Sudan increased by over 330 per cent .

Officials say the surge has added pressure on Britain’s asylum support system. The Home Office estimates that asylum accommodation costs more than £4 billion annually , with nearly 16,000 nationals from the four countries currently receiving public support, including more than 6,000 housed in hotels .

The government argues that the restrictions are necessary to prevent misuse of legal visa routes. “Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused,” Mahmood said while announcing the policy.

However, the decision has triggered criticism from refugee advocates, human rights groups and some political figures. Campaigners warn that blocking legal entry routes may push migrants toward dangerous irregular journeys , including crossing the English Channel in small boats, while also undermining protection for people fleeing conflicts and repression in the affected countries.

Analysts also note that students from the four countries represent only about 0.57 per cent of the UK’s international student population , suggesting the overall numbers involved remain relatively small despite the sharp rise in asylum claims.

The visa restrictions are part of a wider tightening of Britain’s asylum system. The government recently announced that refugee protection will become temporary, lasting 30 months and subject to review , instead of granting longer-term status immediately.