Eritreans face total UK visa ban in row over return of small boat migrants

Eritrea could be hit with a complete visa ban unless it agrees to the return of more small boat migrants and convicted criminals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says.

The east African country had refused to co-operate with the return of its nationals, she told the Telegraph.

Other nations could face similar visa restrictions if they fail to accept migrant returns, she added.

“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,” Ms Mahmood said.

“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 cooperate.”

Eritrean diplomats in the UK have had their fast-track visa access stripped, the Telegraph also reported.

They face restrictions on their movements outside London without the permission of the Foreign Office.

The move follows similar threats of visa sanctions against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2025.

Angola and Namibia subsequently agreed to co-operate with demands on migrant returns following the warnings.

The Democratic Republic of Congo caved after VIPs and decision-makers were stripped of preferential visa treatment and DRC nationals had fast-track visas revoked, the Home Office said. The country reached an agreement with the UK in February.

More than 3,000 nationals from those three countries could now be removed from the UK due to the agreements, the government said at the time.

In March, ministers placed an emergency brake on visas for nationals from four countries after the Home Secretary accused them of exploiting Britain's generosity to claim asylum.

Study visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan were halted, while work visas for Afghans were halted too.

According to government figures, 6,952 Eritrean asylum seekers arrived in the UK in the year to June 2026.

That was the second highest number of any nationality, behind Pakistan, and included 5,875 asylum seekers who came by small boat.

Eritrea also had the second-highest asylum approval rating of any country, with 84 per cent of claims being accepted. That was behind only Sudan, with 92 per cent.