Britain has announced the suspension of study visas for citizens of four countries and work visas for Afghans, using what it called “emergency brakes” to curb the rise in asylum applications from those entering the country via legal routes.
Migration remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Britain, and Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is seeking to show it is tightening the system as support for the populist Reform Party grows in opinion polls.
The Home Office, which is set to block study visas for citizens of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, stated that asylum applications submitted by students from these countries jumped more than fivefold between 2021 and 2025.
It added that asylum applications from Afghans holding work visas now exceed the number of visas issued.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement that Britain will continue to provide sanctuary for those fleeing war and persecution, but the country’s visa system must not be abused.
She continued that for this reason, an unprecedented decision was made to refuse visas to holders of those nationalities who seek to exploit our generosity.
For its part, the government said that asylum applications submitted after entering on legal visas have increased more than threefold since 2021 and accounted for 39 percent of the 100,000 people who applied last year.
It added that nearly 16,000 citizens from the four mentioned countries are currently receiving support at state expense, including more than 6,000 staying in hotels, which increases the pressure on the cost of asylum seeker accommodation, estimated at 4 billion pounds (5.34 billion dollars) annually.
The government explained that the changes will come into effect during March 26, adding that it intends to establish new “safe and legal routes” with a specific cap once the asylum system stabilizes.
Britain has granted asylum to more than 37,000 Afghans through resettlement programs since 2021, and issued about 190,000 humanitarian visas last year.
It said it has secured the cooperation of Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo regarding the return of asylum seekers, after warning in November 2025 that citizens of the three countries could lose their right to obtain entry visas to Britain.
Starmer had previously said that asylum rules in Britain are more lenient compared to other European countries and represent a “pull factor” for those seeking to enter the country.
In November 2025, the government announced plans to make refugee status temporary and speed up the deportation of those who arrive in Britain illegally.
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