The Government has suspended study visas for migrants from four countries over accusations they are abusing the asylum system.
Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan have been halted, as have work visas for Afghans, as Shabana Mahmood accused them of using legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in the UK.
According to Home Office figures, some 39 per cent of the 100,000 who claimed asylum in 2025 did so after arriving in the UK through a legal migration route, like a study visa.
The Home Office described the suspension on visa claims as an ‘unprecedented’ step, as it is the first time such visa bans have been implemented.
Ms Mahmood said: ‘Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused.
‘That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity.
‘I will restore order and control to our borders.’
Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan represent the most significant part of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.
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A record-breaking number of 110,000 people claimed asylum this year
Total asylum claims from the year ending September 2002 to September 2025
The visa ban will be officially introduced via an immigration rules change on Thursday.
The Home Secretary has previously threatened a similar halt to all UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in November, unless their governments agreed to take back illegal migrants.
This led to co-operation agreements with all three countries, and illegal migrants being returned via deportation flights.
Ms Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.
Ms Mahmood also announced this week that, under the widely trailed plans, asylum seekers in the UK will have their refugee status reviewed every 30 months in an effort to make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.
She added that refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.
Under current rules, those granted refugee status have it for five years and can apply for indefinite leave to remain and get on a route to citizenship.
But starting next Monday, refugees will need to renew their permission to stay or apply for a visa route like any other legal migrant, including paying associated fees.
The policy shift is modelled on Denmark’s system, a firm approach admired by Ms Mahmood.
The Home Secretary believes the Government must cut migration or it risks opening the door to the right who would divide communities with the kind of anti-immigration raids seen in the US.
The Government hopes the reforms – to be introduced through an Immigration Rules change later this week – will make the UK less attractive for illegal immigrants.