The United Kingdom (UK) announced it will stop issuing education visas to nationals from Sudan and Cameroon, alongside Afghanistan and Myanmar, as part of a crackdown on asylum claims.

Authorities said asylum applications from students of these countries surged sharply, with nearly 135,000 people entering the UK through legal routes since 2021.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move is aimed at preventing abuse of the visa system while continuing to offer refuge to those fleeing conflict.

"Britain will always provide refuge to people fleeing war and persecution, but our visa system must not be abused," Mahmood said in a statement. "That is why I am taking the unprecedented decision to refuse visas for those nationals seeking to exploit our generosity."

Student asylum applications from Cameroon, Sudan, Afghanistan and Myanmar increased more than 470 percent between 2021 and 2025, according to the Home Office.

Despite a 20 percent drop in student asylum claims last year, those arriving on study visas still account for 13 percent of all ongoing claims, officials said.