The UK government has imposed an emergency brake on study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Tuesday. Work visas for Afghans have also been suspended, as Mahmood accused these countries of exploiting Britain's generosity to claim asylum.
According to Home Office figures, 39% of the 100,000 asylum claims in 2025 were made by individuals who arrived via legal migration routes, including study visas. Asylum applications from students of the four affected nations accounted for a significant portion of the increase between 2021 and September 2025.
Mahmood stated: "Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused. That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity." The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.
This move follows a similar threat in November against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which led to cooperation agreements and deportation flights. Mahmood is expected to outline further measures to toughen the asylum system in a speech on Thursday, including temporary refugee status lasting 30 months and a requirement for claimants from safe countries to return.
The announcement comes despite appeals from some Labour MPs, peers and affiliated unions for the government to adopt more progressive policies after the party came third in last week's Gorton and Denton byelection.
