News and updates

4 March 2026- UK Government to stop Student visas for 4 nationalities (Updated 06/03/2026)

On 4 March 2026, the UK government announced it will stop student visas for students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, as well as Skilled Worker visas for Afghan nationals.

A statement of changes to the immigration rules was released on 5 March 2026.

What we know so far:

• The changes will affect all Student visa applications submitted outside the UK by Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan nationals from 12:01 on 26 March 2026. We expect UKVI to refuse any such applications made after this point.
• Nationals of these countries can expect their applications to be refused even if they live and/or submit their application in another country outside of the UK.
• The changes will not affect Student visa applications submitted inside the UK, or the ability for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan national students who are already here switching to the Graduate visa after completing their course.

What we don't know yet:

• Whether the Student visa guidance (when updated) will include any concessions for students who are already in the UK when the changes come into effect.

If you have submitted a request to change your studies or if you are expecting to have a change to your studies in the future, contact ISSAC.

This is because some changes to study may require you to leave the UK and/or submit your next visa application from outside the UK, which would then be affected by these changes to the rules.