Reinstate Student Visas for Afghans
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud paused student visas for Afghans on 4 March, 2026. This must be reversed.
Signatures
14
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 14/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 14/100,000
- 20 APR 2026Petition rejectedduplicate
You may wish to sign this petition which calls for similar action: 'Reverse the visa brake on student visa applications from Afghan nationals' https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763472
- 10 MAR 2026Petition created
Background
Banning one of the only legal routes left for Afghan asylum seekers is cruel. The UK had direct involvement in enabling the Taliban's takeover by irresponsibly withdrawing its troops in August 2021. Afghan women, especially, deserve the right to apply for their education in the UK as they have not been able to work or study since the Taliban's takeover. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has formally referred to Afghanistan as undergoing "gender-based apartheid".