4 March 2026

On Wednesday 4 March 2026, the UK Government announced the introduction of a targeted ‘emergency brake’ on applications under the Student route, ending the issuance of study permission to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. The Skilled Worker route will additionally be closed to Afghan nationals.

According to the Home Office, the decision follows a sharp rise in asylum applications from individuals who initially entered the UK through lawful migration routes, particularly under the Student route. Government figures indicate that asylum claims from students from these 4 nationalities increased by more than 470% between 2021 and 2025, while the number of Afghans on work routes subsequently claiming asylum has exceeded the number of visas issued. The Home Secretary described the measures as necessary to prevent what the Government characterises as ‘abuse’ of the immigration system.

The changes will be implemented through amendments to the Immigration Rules, with a Statement of Changes expected tomorrow (Thursday 5 March 2026) and are due to be in force from 26 March 2026. Transitional measures will apply, so that existing permission holders will not be affected, and the measures apply only to new applications.

The terminology used by the Government – ‘emergency brake’ – indicates that this may be a temporary pause on applications, rather than a permanent closure. However, no timeframe has been provided for how long these measures may remain in place. Affected individuals may wish to explore whether other immigration categories or protection-based routes are appropriate to their circumstances.

While the Government’s intention to safeguard the integrity of the immigration system is understandable, some commentators have highlighted that the imposition of a blanket closure of the route risks penalising genuine students and skilled workers from the affected countries, many of whom may have legitimate reasons to study or work in the UK.

Furthermore, the absence of a clear timeline or transparent criteria for reviewing or lifting the restrictions may create uncertainty for applicants and educational institutions alike.