The Home Office has announced that an ‘emergency brake’ on visas will be imposed for the first time on nationals from four countries following a surge in asylum claims from legal routes.
Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan rose by over 470% between 2021 and 2025, and the number of Afghans on work visas claiming asylum is now outstripping the number of visas issued.
In response, the Home Office will end sponsored study visas from all four countries and skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals.
The visa brake will be introduced via an Immigration Rules change on March 5, 2026 and come into force on March 26, 2026.
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