The UK has imposed emergency visa bans on four countries to prevent exploitation of its asylum system.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that study visas from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan are now suspended. Work visas for Afghans are also halted.
The government said some migrants were using legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in the UK. Home Office data shows around 39% of the 100,000 asylum claims in 2025 came via legal migration channels, such as study visas.
“This is an unprecedented step, but necessary,” Mahmood said. “Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused. I will restore order and control to our borders.”
The visa bans will be formalised through a change to immigration rules on Thursday. Mahmood is expected to outline additional measures aimed at toughening the UK asylum system.
Under these new plans, refugees in the UK will have their status reviewed every 30 months instead of five years. Those from countries deemed safe will be expected to return home.
Previously, Mahmood threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless the governments agreed to take back illegal migrants. That resulted in cooperation agreements and deportation flights.
The Home Office highlighted that asylum applications from students of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan represent the largest portion of the increase in claims between 2021 and September 2025.
Officials said the measures aim to maintain the integrity of the UK’s visa system while continuing to provide protection for genuine refugees.
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