UK Imposes ‘Emergency Brake’ on Study Visas for Nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan
In an unprecedented move, the UK government has halted study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, while also suspending skilled worker visas specifically for Afghan citizens. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the decision as necessary to prevent abuse of the UK’s visa system, accusing individuals from these countries of exploiting legal migration routes to claim asylum.
The Home Office announced the “emergency brake” on March 3, 2026, marking the first use of such powers. Officials cited a dramatic surge in asylum applications: claims by students from these four nationalities rose by more than 470% between 2021 and September 2025, forming a significant portion of overall increases in asylum cases.
“Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused,” Mahmood stated. “That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.”
The measure targets sponsored study routes across all four countries and extends to work visas for Afghans, where asylum claims reportedly now exceed the number of visas issued in some cases. High rates of asylum applications were noted, including nearly 95% of Afghans entering on study visas since 2021 switching to asylum claims, with similar sharp rises for Myanmar (sixteen-fold increase) and Cameroon/Sudan (over 330%).
The changes will be formally implemented through amendments to the Immigration Rules, effective from March 26 in some reports, though the suspension applies immediately in practice for new applications. This action is separate from ongoing efforts to improve deportation cooperation with other nations.
The Home Office emphasized that the UK remains committed to genuine protection for those in peril, with plans to introduce capped “safe and legal routes” once the asylum system is stabilized.
