Britain to ban study visas for four nations and stop Afghan work permits

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Britain announced on Tuesday that it will deny study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, as well as suspend work visas for Afghans. The government described this move as an “emergency brake” aimed at limiting the surge in asylum claims lodged through legal channels.

Immigration remains a highly sensitive political issue in the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration is under pressure to tighten immigration controls, especially as the populist Reform UK party gains popularity in opinion polls.

The Home Office explained that asylum applications from students from these four countries increased more than five times between 2021 and 2025. It also noted that Afghan nationals on work visas are now applying at a higher rate than the visas issued.

“Britain will always offer refuge to those fleeing war and persecution,” said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. “However, our visa system must not be exploited. That is why I am making the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for nationals attempting to take advantage of our generosity.”

Since 2021, the government states that asylum claims made after entry on legal visas have more than tripled — accounting for 39% of the 100,000 individuals who applied last year. Nearly 16,000 citizens from these four countries are currently supported at public expense, including more than 6,000 in hotels, contributing to the strain on asylum accommodation costs, which the government estimates at 4 billion pounds ($5.34 billion) annually.

These policy changes will go into effect on March 26, with plans to establish new, capped “safe and legal routes” once the asylum system stabilizes.

Britain has provided sanctuary to over 37,000 Afghans through resettlement programs since 2021 and issued roughly 190,000 humanitarian visas last year. The government also reports successful negotiations with Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding returns, after warning in November that nationals from these countries risk losing access to UK visas.

Starmer has previously criticized UK asylum policies as more lenient than those in much of Europe, viewing the openness as a “pull factor” for migrants. His administration announced plans in November to make refugee status temporary and speed up deportations for those arriving illegally.