The UK Home Office has announced a ban on issuing education visas to nationals of Cameroon, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Myanmar over rising asylum applications.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows a more than 470 per cent increase in student asylum claims from the four countries between 2021 and 2025, according to the Home Office.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move was necessary to prevent abuse of the visa system, stressing that Britain would continue to offer protection to those fleeing conflict and persecution.

Official data show that nearly 135,000 asylum seekers have entered the United Kingdom through legal routes since 2021. Although student asylum claims fell by 20 per cent in 2025, they still account for about 13 per cent of all applications.

Migration remains a key political issue in the UK, with the anti-immigration platform of Reform UK gaining support in opinion polls.

The government said the new policy is aimed at strengthening immigration controls and ensuring that study visas are used strictly for educational purposes.