The United Kingdom has announced an immediate halt to new study visas for Cameroonian nationals, citing growing concerns over misuse of the immigration system. The decision, confirmed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, forms part of a broader crackdown targeting countries whose citizens frequently apply for asylum after arriving in Britain on legal visas.
According to the Home Office, the move follows an increase in asylum applications from individuals who initially entered the UK for academic purposes. Official statistics indicate that claims from Cameroonian students have risen more than fourfold since 2021, placing the country among those with the highest conversion rate from study visas to asylum requests.
Government data further reveal that asylum petitions from people who first came legally — including students — have more than tripled between 2021 and 2025. Currently, applicants who originally arrived on study visas account for about 13 percent of all asylum cases awaiting decisions.
Authorities also noted that many claimants from Cameroon and the other affected nations frequently cite financial hardship as part of their asylum grounds. At present, roughly 16,000 nationals from the impacted countries are receiving state support in the UK.
Beyond Cameroon, the suspension also affects applicants from Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sudan. In Afghanistan’s case, the government has gone a step further by blocking skilled worker visas as well. Officials reported that about 95 percent of Afghans who entered Britain on study permits since 2021 later sought asylum. Meanwhile, asylum applications from Myanmar nationals increased sixteenfold, while those from Sudan rose more than four times over the same period.
In a statement, Mahmood described the measure as an “extraordinary but necessary” step to prevent exploitation of Britain’s immigration framework. She emphasized that the government remains committed to assisting individuals genuinely fleeing persecution but insisted that stricter border management is required to preserve that tradition.
