The UK government has announced it will stop issuing study visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, as well as skilled work visas for Afghans, effective this month.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood cited widespread visa abuse as the reason, stating that people from these countries are most likely to claim asylum after entering the UK on study visas.
According to official figures, asylum claims from these countries have surged by 470% between 2021 and 2025, with 13% of all asylum claims in the system coming from students who entered the UK on study visas.
The Home Office aims to reduce this number, having already decreased student asylum claims by 20% in 2025.
The move is part of the government’s broader effort to tighten immigration rules and address concerns about visa abuse. Mahmood emphasized the UK’s commitment to helping genuine refugees while preventing exploitation of the system.
