Petition
Reinstate Student Visas for Afghans
Rejected
14 signatures
What the petition asks
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud paused student visas for Afghans on 4 March, 2026. This must be reversed.
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".
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
You may wish to sign this petition which calls for similar action:
'Reverse the visa brake on student visa applications from Afghan nationals'
Reverse the visa brake on student visa applications from Afghan nationals
'Reverse the visa brake on student visa applications from Afghan nationals'
Reverse the visa brake on student visa applications from Afghan nationals
Timeline
| 10 Mar 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 20 Apr 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
14
Status
Rejected
Rejected
20 Apr 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 17 Aug 2026.