The Government is set to issue a bombshell ban 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.

Ministers say the move comes amid mounting evidence that some individuals are using legal migration routes as a backdoor to lodge asylum claims once in the UK. The Home Office described the suspension as an “unprecedented” step, marking the first time such sweeping visa bans have been imposed on specific nationalities.

Ms 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, around 39 % of the 100,000 people who claimed asylum in 2025 had initially entered the UK through a legal route, such as a study visa.

Asylum claims from students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan account for the bulk of a sharp rise recorded between 2021 and September 2025, officials said.

The visa ban will formally come into force through a change to immigration rules on Thursday.

The Home Secretary previously threatened a blanket halt on UK visas for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in November unless their governments agreed to accept the return of illegal migrants.

That warning prompted co-operation agreements with all three nations, paving the way for deportation flights to resume.

Ms Mahmood is expected to unveil further plans to tighten the UK’s asylum system in a speech on Thursday.