UK warns Eritrea of full visa ban unless it takes back nationals

Britain's Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned Eritrea on 15 October 2026 that its citizens could be barred from entering the United Kingdom altogether unless the country agrees to take back more of its nationals. She said she wants Eritrea to accept the repatriation of convicted criminals and irregular migrants.

Key facts

• Announced: 15 October 2026, by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood
• Threatened measure: a complete ban on Eritrean citizens entering the UK
• Trigger: Eritrea's refusal to accept the return of convicted criminals and irregular migrants
• Context: Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026, according to the Home Office
• No start date has been announced for any ban

What is being threatened?

Mahmood said Eritrea had had every chance to accept the return of criminals and people with no right to remain in the UK, but had refused, unlike other countries. Her message to the Eritrean government, she said, was to "take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK." She also put other countries on notice that she would not hesitate to act if they refused to cooperate.

Why is this happening?

The Home Office accused Eritrea of abruptly withdrawing cooperation on returns earlier in 2026. Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026, the Home Office said. The source does not state a deadline for Eritrea to comply or when any ban might take effect.

What happened with the DR Congo?

The warning followed a similar case involving the Democratic Republic of Congo. In December 2025, the UK government revoked fast-track visa processing for Congolese nationals and ended preferential visa treatment for its VIPs and decision makers, and threatened to halt all visas. The UK cited Kinshasa's poor cooperation on returning undocumented migrants and nationals convicted of an offence in a British court. The Home Office said in February that the DR Congo had agreed to take back irregular immigrants.

The UK also threatened visa restrictions against Namibia and Angola last year, prompting those countries to accept returns in December.

What this means for travellers

No visa ban on Eritrean citizens is currently in force, and the source gives no date for one to start. Eritreans planning travel to the UK should watch for further announcements from the Home Office. Congolese nationals, meanwhile, no longer have access to fast-track visa processing or preferential treatment for VIPs and decision makers following the December 2025 curbs.

The Home Office said in August that the UK granted 679,000 work, study or family visas in the year to June 2026, with a further 25,000 people arriving by legal routes and 33,000 arriving without documents by small boat.