UK Halts Study Visas for Four Nations

The United Kingdom has announced it will stop issuing study visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, as part of a broader effort to curb rising asylum claims.

The Home Office said the move follows a sharp increase in asylum applications from students arriving from those countries. Work visas for Afghan nationals will also be suspended under the new measures.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said Britain would continue to offer protection to people fleeing war and persecution but warned that the visa system must not be misused.

“Britain will always provide refuge to those in genuine need, but our visa system must not be abused,” she said, describing the decision as unprecedented.

According to government data, asylum claims by students from the four countries have risen by more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025. Overall, nearly 135,000 asylum seekers have entered the UK through legal routes since 2021.

Migration remains a contentious political issue in the UK, with mounting pressure on the government to reduce both irregular Channel crossings and asylum claims made after entry on valid visas.

The Home Office said that while student asylum claims have fallen by 20 percent in 2025, individuals arriving on study visas still account for 13 percent of total claims currently in the system. Officials indicated that further measures could follow as part of the government’s wider migration control strategy.