Asylum Abuse: Sudan, Cameroon among countries affected by UK visa halt
The UK government has placed an emergency brake on visas for nationals from four countries, as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood accused them of exploiting Britain’s generosity to claim asylum.
Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan have been halted, as have work visas for Afghans.
The government has halted the visa routes as it claims a growing number of people from these countries are using legal migration routes as a backdoor to claim asylum in the UK.
The Home Office described the suspension of visa claims as an “unprecedented” step, as it is the first time such visa bans have been implemented.
Mr 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.”
According to Home Office figures, some 39% 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.
Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan account for the largest share of a spike between 2021 and September 2025, the Home Office added.
The visa ban will be officially introduced via an amendment to immigration rules 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.
Mr Mahmood is expected to lay out measures to toughen up the UK asylum system in a speech on Thursday.
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.
Refugees whose countries are deemed safe will be expected to return home.
(PA Media/dpa/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Abuja
U.S. embassy cancels visa interviews in Abuja, issues security alert over pro-Khamenei protests
“Due to the potential for protests in Abuja, the U.S. Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa appointments on Wednesday, March 4, 2026,” the U.S. government stated.
Politics
Southern Kaduna women, youths rally in support of El-Rufai’s probe
Mr Auta urged authorities to go a step further by investigating Mr El-Rufai’s repeated resort to divisive rhetoric along religious and ethnic lines.
Politics
Accord Party begins e-registration of members
The Accord Party says it has commenced a nationwide e-registration and revalidation of its members.
Economy
Cross River: NCS auctions 14,375 litres of smuggled petrol bound for Cameroon
The Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday auctioned 14,375 litres of petrol seized from smugglers bound for Cameroon.
States
Nigerian Navy assesses marines’ readiness for harbour threats
The exercise, flagged off by the flag officer commanding, Chidozie Okehie, was conducted at the Nigeria Navy Ship VICTORY jetty in Calabar.
Economy
DMO offers savings bonds for subscription at N1,000 per unit
According to a release by the DMO, the first offer is a two-year savings bond due on March 11, 2028, at an interest rate of 12.906 per cent per annum.
