Published: 08.07.2026
From 26 March 2026, nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan became ineligible to apply for certain mainstream visas to live in the UK. Afghan nationals are additionally barred from applying for Skilled Worker visas.
According to the source, this is a direct restriction on access to selected legal routes for entry and residence, with Afghan nationals also excluded from the Skilled Worker route. Prospective applicants from the affected countries need to check whether their specific visa category remains available before preparing an application, as study- or work-based relocation may be blocked. The measure is particularly important for students, skilled workers and families planning dependent applications. It does not directly change visa rules for nationals of other countries.