UK threatens visa bans for Eritrea over migrant return policy

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has threatened to ban all Eritreans from entering the UK if the east African country's government does not accept more returns of small boat migrants and foreign national offenders.

Ministers have previously pressured other countries into accepting returns by threatening visa bans.

She said she would not hesitate "to impose further measures on other countries refusing to co-operate".

The restrictions mean diplomats are banned from travelling 60km outside London without permission.

Earlier this year, the UK threatened bans against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Angola and Namibia both agreed changes before restrictions were introduced.

Penalties included an "emergency brake" on visas for countries with high asylum claims until they take back citizens in the UK illegally.

There were more than 40,600 returns and deportations from the UK from July 2025 to June this year - an 8% increase on the same period last year.

UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policyPublished27 December 2025

Three African countries agree to UK migrant returns after visa penalty threatPublished6 February

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