The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Richard Lindsay said the United Kingdom is imposing new restrictions on work and study visas for Afghan nationals, arguing that legal migration routes have been increasingly used to lodge asylum claims.
In a post on X on March 4, 2026, Lindsay said the government
is introducing a “brake” on these visas because of what he described as
widespread abuse. He stressed that the move is intended to protect the
integrity of the UK’s immigration and asylum system.
“We remain committed to support those in genuine need; this
does not diminish our support for the rights and freedoms of all Afghans,” he
wrote.
According to details shared by UK officials, the measures
include ending sponsored study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon,
Myanmar and Sudan, as well as halting skilled worker visas for Afghan
nationals. Officials said asylum applications by students from the four
countries increased by more than 470% between 2021 and 2025.
Lindsay argued that the number of Afghans on work visas who
later claimed asylum now exceeds the number of visas issued, calling the
situation unsustainable. He said firm action is required to prevent misuse of
legal pathways and to ensure the UK can continue supporting individuals who are
genuinely fleeing conflict and persecution.
The UK government said the changes will be introduced
through amendments to immigration rules on March 5, 2026, and will take effect
on March 26, 2026. Officials also noted that Britain has resettled more than
37,000 Afghans through dedicated schemes since 2021, underscoring what they
described as the country’s continued humanitarian commitment.
