UK imposes visa ‘emergency brake’ on four countries amid crackdown on visa misuse; halts sponsored study visas |

The UK Home Office has announced an “emergency brake” on certain visa routes for nationals from four countries following what officials described as widespread abuse of legal visa pathways to claim asylum. Under the new measure, the UK government will end sponsored study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, while skilled worker visas will also be stopped for Afghan nationals. The changes will be introduced through amendments to the UK’s immigration rules on March 5, 2026, and will come into effect from March 26, 2026.

Surge in asylum claims from legal visa routes

According to government statistics, asylum claims made by persons who entered the country through legal visa channels have risen significantly in recent times. The number of asylum claims made by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan increased by more than 470 percent from 2021 to 2025. These students are considered the most likely to apply for asylum after arriving in the UK on student visas. The authorities have also observed that Afghan nationals with work visas have been making asylum claims at a rate that far outstrips the number of visas that are issued to them. Officials said the measures were necessary as asylum claims from people who entered through legal routes have more than tripled since 2021. Last year alone, such claims accounted for 39 percent of the roughly 100,000 asylum applications submitted in the UK. Over the past five years, 133,760 individuals have claimed asylum after arriving legally in the country, according to government figures.

Pressure on asylum support system

The government said the surge in asylum claims has placed additional pressure on the UK’s asylum support system. Many applicants who claim asylum are provided accommodation and financial support while their cases are processed. Currently, asylum support is estimated to cost more than £4 billion per year, with nearly 16,000 nationals from the four affected countries receiving support, including more than 6,000 people staying in hotels funded by public money. Officials said a higher-than-average proportion of individuals from these nationalities have declared destitution while awaiting asylum decisions.Read more: Thailand waives overstay fines for travellers hit by Middle East flight disruptions

Government says measures aim to curb visa misuse

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was taking “unprecedented” action to prevent misuse of visa routes while maintaining protection for those genuinely fleeing conflict and persecution. “Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused,” Mahmood said. “That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.” She added that the government intends to restore “order and control” to the UK’s immigration system.

Broader immigration reforms underway

The visa restrictions form part of a wider set of immigration reforms being introduced by the government. Mahmood is expected to outline additional proposals during a speech at the IPPR, where she will discuss plans to tighten border controls while maintaining humanitarian commitments. Data from the government indicates that between 2021 and September 2025, claims for Afghan students made up 95 percent of all study visas issued to that nationality. At the same time, applications for asylum from students of Myanmar increased sixteen times, while applications from students of Cameroon and Sudan nationalities increased by more than 330 percent. Although officials say student asylum claims declined by 20 percent in 2025, they still account for about 13 percent of all asylum claims in the system.Read more: Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights until March 6 amid regional airspace closures

Other migration measures

The announcement follows several recent policy changes aimed at tightening the UK’s asylum framework. Earlier this month, the government reduced the length of refugee protection status from five years to 30 months, a move officials say is intended to reduce incentives for irregular migration.In recent months the government has also pursued diplomatic pressure on several countries to accept the return of migrants who are in the UK illegally. Meanwhile, the UK says it remains committed to offering protection to people fleeing conflict. Since 2021, the country has resettled more than 37,000 Afghan nationals through two dedicated resettlement programmes, while 190,000 visas were granted through humanitarian routes in 2025. Officials say the new visa restrictions are intended to ensure that the immigration system remains sustainable while allowing the UK to continue supporting those most in need of protection.