Visa Brake Blocks New Student and Skilled Worker Applications from Four Countries
06 Mar 2026
The March 2026 Statement of Changes (HC 1691) introduced a "visa brake" targeting nationals of four countries where asylum claim rates relative to visa grants are particularly high. From 12:01am on 26 March 2026, new applications on affected routes will be refused at the point of decision.
Who is affected. The brake applies to:
- Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan
- Skilled Worker visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan only
The restriction catches applications submitted on or after 26 March 2026. If your application was submitted before that date, it will be assessed under the previous rules.
If you are already in the UK, this does not affect your current visa. The brake applies only to entry clearance applications made from outside the UK. If you hold a valid Skilled Worker visa and need to extend it, you can still apply in-country and your extension will not be refused under this rule. You can also switch to other eligible routes while in the UK.
What it means in practice. Afghan nationals who do not yet have a Skilled Worker visa and are currently outside the UK will be unable to obtain one from 26 March. Similarly, nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan outside the UK will be unable to obtain a Student visa. Anyone planning to apply for entry clearance on these routes from those nationalities should submit before the 26 March deadline if they wish their application to be considered.
The Home Office cites high ratios of asylum claims to visa grants from these countries as the rationale for the measure. The brake can be lifted by a future Statement of Changes if conditions change.
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