United Kingdom: Pause on Issuing Student Visas, Skilled Worker Visas to Select Nationals
March 5, 2026
Country / Territory
Share
At a Glance
- Effective March 26, 2026, the United Kingdom will temporarily cease issuing sponsored student visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and skilled worker visas to Afghan nationals.
- In explaining the policy change, the UK government has cited the high proportion of individuals from these countries who apply for asylum once in the United Kingdom.
- The UK government has said that this policy – which is not intended to be permanent – will be reviewed regularly and will end when UK authorities consider it appropriate.
The situation
Effective March 26, 2026, the United Kingdom will temporarily cease issuing sponsored student visas to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, and skilled worker visas to Afghan nationals.
A closer look
-
- Scope. This suspension only applies to applications made from outside of the United Kingdom. Applications submitted before March 26 will be processed as normal.
- Current visa holders. Affected nationals who already hold one of the affected visa types will continue to be able to apply for in-country visa extensions or another visa route in-country (if eligible).
Background
In explaining the policy change, the UK government has cited the high proportion of individuals from these countries who apply for asylum once in the United Kingdom.
Impact
Schools, colleges, and universities should review recruitment plans and applications from affected nationalities. Additionally, employers recruiting from Afghanistan should assess impacts on skilled worker visa pipelines.
Looking ahead
-
- Effective date. This policy (introduced via immigration rule changes on March 5, 2026) will come into force on March 26, 2026.
- Policy duration. The UK government has said that this policy – which is not intended to be permanent – will be reviewed regularly and will end when UK authorities consider it appropriate.
We are continuing to monitor the situation.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
