The United Kingdom government has announced that it will suspend student visas for nationals of four countries and stop issuing work visas for Afghans under an “emergency brake” policy aimed at reducing rising asylum applications through legal entry routes.
The restrictions will apply to citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, as confirmed by the interior ministry. Officials stated that asylum claims from students belonging to these countries have surged more than five times between 2021 and 2025. In addition, applications from Afghans holding work visas now exceed the number of visas granted, reflecting growing pressure on the immigration system.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood emphasized that the UK remains committed to protecting individuals fleeing conflict and persecution but stressed that the visa system must not be misused. Immigration has become a key political issue for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, which has pledged stricter asylum controls amid increasing support for Reform UK in opinion polls.
Government data shows that asylum claims submitted after individuals entered on legal visas have more than tripled since 2021 and accounted for 39% of the 100,000 applications filed last year. Around 16,000 nationals from the four affected countries are currently receiving public support, including over 6,000 accommodated in hotels. Officials reported that the annual cost of asylum housing has reached £4 billion ($5.34 billion).
The new measures will take effect on March 26. Authorities also plan to introduce capped “safe and legal routes” once the asylum system stabilizes. Since 2021, more than 37,000 Afghans have been resettled through special schemes, and approximately 190,000 humanitarian visas were issued last year.
The government has also secured cooperation from several African nations on return agreements and is proposing reforms to make refugee status temporary while speeding up removals for illegal arrivals.
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