Review the 2026 visa brake: Publish evidence & create transitional arrangements

Publish evidence & methodology for the 2026 visa brake, review the country and route list, and create transitional arrangements for applicants with confirmed university offers, scholarships, sponsored specialist roles, and women facing severe restrictions on education or work in their home countries

The visa brake can refuse overseas Student and Skilled Worker applications by nationality. The Government should publish the evidence, thresholds and comparative data used, explain in more detail why some countries and routes were included while others were not, and protect genuine applicants, including women facing severe restrictions on education or work in their home countries.

The Government does not consider further changes to the 2026 visa brake necessary. Evidence and methodology have been published and transitional arrangements of 21 days were implemented. The brake is not intended to be permanent, and will be kept under regular review, however it will only be released once the Government considers it appropriate to do so. The Government has also committed to three new safe and legal routes to offer sanctuary to those genuinely fleeing war and persecution. This includes refugee study and work routes, including for women facing hardship in their home countries.

Details of the evidence, thresholds and method used for the visa brake are detailed in full in the Impact Assessment published alongside the announcement of the visa brakes in March 2026. This can be found online at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69a9a3301f59a04b996e77f3/HO1030_Visa_Brake_Impact_Assessment.pdf.

Once a nationality reaches the threshold outlined in the Impact Assessment, this triggers a broader assessment to inform a final decision on whether to impose a visa brake. This includes not just visa-linked asylum rates, but also wider equities, such as migration considerations, national security, and growth. This assessment is conducted by the Home Office alongside other government departments. Where other nationalities also meet this threshold, full assessments will be carried out, before a final decision is made to impose a visa brake.

The visa brake is not intended to be permanent but will only be lifted when the Government considers it appropriate to do so. The brake will only be lifted once it is clear there has been a reduction in the risk of high proportions of visa-linked asylum claims recommencing on that route from that nationality. This principally uses the broader cross-government assessment to inform the final decision to reassess if the risk remains or if the brake can be removed.

Transitional arrangements were implemented before the visa brake took effect. In order to allow prospective students with an offer from a licensed sponsor and a valid Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to apply for visas, we provided 21 days’ notice ahead of the visa brake coming into force on 26 March. The brake does not apply to applications from the affected routes and nationalities submitted before 26 March, nor to those who already hold a valid Student visa.

There are no plans for any exceptions to the brake, including individuals in receipt of scholarships such as Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars. We recognise the acute challenges faced by particular cohorts, including women and girls facing severe restrictions in their home countries, and these were carefully considered during policy development. While the restrictions they face are severe, introducing an exception for this cohort would be unfair on those other nationals who do not share the same protected characteristic.

On 26 June the Home Secretary confirmed the refugee study and named sponsorship routes will open to applications from prospective lead sponsors in the autumn, with arrivals expected from autumn 2027 onwards. Design work is underway to develop these routes, and we are working closely with a range of stakeholders to ensure the routes work for beneficiaries, stakeholders and government. The refugee work route is expected to open next year, enabling employers to sponsor refugees. UNHCR-recognised refugees will be eligible for the new safe and legal routes, and no nationalities will be prevented from eligibility. Further details will be set out in due course.

Home Office