Home Secretary halts visas from nations 'exploiting British generosity' after launching asylum crackdown
The Government has immediately halted all study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and work visas for Afghan.
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said migrants from these countries are "seeking to exploit our generosity".
The Government has halted the visa routes as it claims a growing number of people from these countries are using legal migration routes to then claim asylum in the UK.
The Home Office described the suspension on visa claims as an “unprecedented” step.
Ms Mahmood said: “Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.
“That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.
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“I will restore order and control to our borders.”
According to Home Office figures, some 39% of the 100,000 who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through a legal migration route, like a study visa.
Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan represent the most significant part of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.
The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.
The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants.
This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.
Ms Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.
Under the widely trailed plans, asylum seekers in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months in an effort to make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.Refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.