The British High Commission in Yaoundé has confirmed a temporary suspension of student visas for nationals of four countries, including Cameroon. This measure, initially planned for 18 months, affects all scholarship programs.
Effective March 26, 2026, the British government will cease granting student visas to applicants from Cameroon, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sudan. According to journalist Paul Sabin Nana, citing AFP, this decision follows "abuses" by individuals entering the UK on student visas and then seeking asylum.
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that the visa system must not be exploited. She justified this measure as necessary to refuse visas to nationals seeking to abuse the UK's generosity and to restore order to its borders.
This decision is part of a broader reform of the government's immigration policy, aimed at reducing legal and illegal immigration. It is interpreted as a tightening of British immigration policy, occurring amid a rise in the polls for the anti-immigration Reform UK party.
The British High Commission clarified that prospective students holding a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) have until March 26 to submit their applications. Applications submitted after this date will be refused without a refund. This restriction does not affect individuals already in the UK, and other visa application routes remain open to Cameroonians.
The High Commission emphasized that this measure is not a political decision and does not reflect the quality of bilateral relations with Cameroon. It is based on the significant number of asylum claims linked to Cameroonian student visas, with over a third of Cameroonian students arriving in the past two years subsequently applying for asylum. The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Matt Woods, indicated that the suspension could last 18 months and that a review of the situation would be conducted.
In 2025, 7,584 asylum claims were made by individuals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, up from 722 in 2021.
