The British government announced on Tuesday the suspension of granting study visas to citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, in addition to stopping work visas for Afghans. This measure was described as an “emergency measure” to confront the significant increase in asylum applications submitted through legal methods.
The British Home Office explained that this decision, which it described as unprecedented, aims to “address the exploitation of the visa system.” This clarification came after statistics showed that citizens of these countries are the most likely to submit asylum applications after entering the country on regular visas. According to official data:
Asylum applications submitted through legal routes have more than tripled since 2021.
This category constituted 39% of the total 100,000 asylum seekers during the year 2025.
Asylum applications from students in the four countries jumped by more than 470% between 2021 and 2025.
Asylum applications from Afghans on work visas have outnumbered those issued by the same visas.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmoud indicated that about 16,000 citizens of the four countries are currently receiving government support, including more than 6,000 staying in hotels at taxpayers’ expense, at an annual cost of up to 4 billion pounds sterling.
Mahmoud said in a statement: “Britain will always remain a haven for those fleeing war and persecution, but its visa system must not be exploited. That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to deny visas to those who seek to take advantage of our generosity.” She added: “I will restore order and control over our borders.”
This amendment is scheduled to take effect on March 26 by amending immigration rules.
This decision comes in light of increasing political pressure on Keir Starmer’s government to reduce the number of immigrants, coinciding with the rise of the anti-immigration Reform Party in opinion polls. Last November, Britain threatened to suspend visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo unless their governments cooperated in repatriating irregular migrants.
