Eritrean VIPs and officials have been stripped of fast-track access to UK visas as the government ramps up pressure on countries refusing to take back illegal immigrants.

And the Home Secretary today warns she will block all visas for Eritreans if the country does not rapidly agree to the return of its nationals with no right to be in the UK.

The warning comes after Eritrea abruptly withdrew returns co-operation earlier this year.

Eritreans were also the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026. Returns arrangements are vital to removing failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals.

From today, the Home Office will scrap Eritrea’s preferential visa processing for VIPs and government officials.

The country must now rapidly improve returns co-operation or face a total visa shutdown. It comes after months of efforts by the UK to resolve the matter privately with the Eritrean government, which has refused to engage constructively.

In her first week in post, the Home Secretary vowed to impose visa penalties on countries that refuse to take back their citizens.

All 3 countries since threatened – Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – have chosen to improve co-operation.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said:

Eritrea has had every chance to accept the return of criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. Unlike other countries, it has refused.

My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK.

I will not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to co-operate.

From today, Eritrea’s diplomats will also now be barred from travelling 60 kilometres (37 miles) beyond London without permission from the Foreign Office, mirroring similar restrictions placed on British officials in Asmara.

Following the threat of visa penalties last autumn, Angola and Namibia quickly agreed enhanced arrangements.

The DRC was slower to act, prompting the Home Secretary to impose visa measures, including restrictions on officials and visas. Following 6 months of sustained co-operation, with returns flights now running, those restrictions have been lifted.

The government is also strengthening returns co-operation with other countries. A new migration deal with Egypt will cut the time taken to return Egyptian nationals with no right to be here by around 90%, from around 30 weeks to 3 weeks.