The United Kingdom has announced that it will stop issuing study visas to citizens of Cameroon, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sudan starting this month, citing concerns over what it describes as widespread abuse of the visa system.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was taking what she described as an “unprecedented decision” to restrict visas for nationals from the four countries after data showed many applicants later sought asylum in the UK.
According to the UK Home Office, people from these countries are among those most likely to apply for asylum after initially entering Britain legally on student visas.
Rising Asylum Claims Linked to Study Visas
Official figures indicate that asylum claims from people who originally came to the UK legally — including through study visas — have more than tripled between 2021 and 2025.
Authorities say individuals who entered on study visas now account for about 13% of all asylum claims currently in the UK system.
The Home Office reported that asylum applications by students from Cameroon and Sudan have more than quadrupled in recent years. Meanwhile, claims by students from Myanmar increased sixteen-fold, while about 95% of Afghans who arrived on student visas since 2021 later applied for asylum.
A government spokesperson said the measures were intended to ensure the UK can continue its “proud tradition of helping those genuinely in need”.
“The government is clamping down on visa abuse so the UK can maintain its ability to support genuine refugees,” the spokesperson said.
Impact on Cameroonian Students
The decision could significantly affect Cameroonian students seeking to study in the UK, which has long been a popular destination for higher education.
Many Cameroonians who apply for asylum in the UK cite insecurity linked to the ongoing conflict in the country’s English-speaking regions, where separatist fighters have been battling government forces since 2017.
The conflict has led to thousands of deaths and forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
Part of Broader Immigration Crackdown
The visa suspension is part of a broader effort by the UK government to tighten immigration controls amid political pressure to reduce migration.
The new policy will be introduced through changes to the UK’s immigration rules on March 5.
The government has also announced other measures aimed at reforming the asylum system, including reducing the length of refugee protection status and increasing efforts to deport migrants whose claims are rejected.
Officials say the reforms are necessary to protect the UK’s asylum system, which they warn faces growing pressure due to rising numbers of migrants arriving through legal and irregular routes.
Despite the restrictions, the Home Office maintains that the UK remains committed to supporting people fleeing genuine persecution and conflict around the world.
