LONDON, March 4, (V7N) – The British government announced Tuesday it will stop issuing education visas to nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and work visas for Afghans, as part of a broader clampdown on asylum seekers.  

The Home Office said asylum applications by students from those countries had surged, with nearly 135,000 asylum seekers entering the UK via legal routes since 2021.  

“Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. “That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.”  

Applications from students of the four countries rose more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025, the Home Office added. Migration has become a major political issue, with hard-right Reform UK gaining support through its anti-migration stance.  

Authorities continue to face pressure over small boat crossings from France, while also seeking to reduce asylum claims through other routes. The Home Office said student asylum claims fell 20 percent in 2025, but arrivals on study visas still accounted for 13 percent of all claims.  

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