UK Suspends Study Visas for Nationals from Four Countries

The UK government, under Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, announced a suspension of study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, effective from March 5. This decision is part of a broader strategy to curb widespread visa abuse, as these nations have seen a dramatic rise in asylum claims.

Data indicates that asylum claims from individuals arriving in the UK on study visas have tripled from 2021 to 2025, with approximately 16,000 people currently receiving support. Notably, the number of asylum applications from Afghan nationals on study visas has surged, with 95% of Afghan arrivals applying for asylum.

Claims from students from Myanmar increased sixteen-fold, while those from Cameroon and Sudan quadrupled during the same period. Mahmood indicated that new legislative measures will be introduced to enforce these visa restrictions, following previous warnings about halting visas for other countries unless deportations resumed.

The overall asylum applications in the UK reached a record high of 108,138 in 2024.