Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced that the UK government will stop issuing study visas to nationals from Cameroon, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Sudan starting this month
Skilled work visas for Afghans have also been suspended.
A government spokesperson said, “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 Home Office said the move is aimed at curbing widespread visa abuse, noting that nationals from the four countries were the most likely to claim asylum after arriving in the UK legally to study.
Home Office data shows that asylum claims by people who originally travelled to the UK on study visas more than tripled between 2021 and 2025. Currently, such claims make up 13% of all asylum applications in the system.
Mahmood said she is “taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity” and added, “I will restore order and control to our borders.”
The government noted that a higher proportion of asylum applicants from the four countries cited destitution in their claims, with around 16,000 people from these countries currently receiving support.
