HC 1619 · published 2026-03-05 · in force 2026-03-26
Visa brake: Student visa refusals for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan
Student
What changed
From 26 March 2026 the Home Office refuses Student visa applications made from outside the UK by main applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan. Applications made before 26 March 2026 are not affected. The measure is described as an 18-month brake.
Who the official source says it applies to
Main applicants for a Student visa applying from outside the UK on or after 26 March 2026 who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
- applications made on or after 2026-03-26
- applications made from outside the UK
- nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan
we will refuse Student visa applications from main applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Additionally, we will refuse Skilled Worker visa applications
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This page is information about a published rule change, not advice about your case. Whether a rule applies to you depends on facts Routewatch does not assess. For advice about your own situation, use a regulated immigration adviser.