United Kingdom Threatens Visa Ban on Eritreans Over Migrant Returns

The United Kingdom has threatened to ban Eritrean nationals from entering the country if the East African government fails to cooperate with the return of migrants who arrived by small boats and foreign nationals convicted of crimes.

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was prepared to impose further restrictions on Eritrea over its refusal to accept more citizens who have no legal right to remain in Britain.

From Thursday, Eritrean diplomats will face restrictions on their movement outside London, while fast-track visa services for prominent individuals will be suspended.

Under the new measures, Eritrean diplomats will be required to obtain permission before travelling more than 60 kilometres outside London. The Home Office said the restrictions mirror those imposed on British officials in Eritrea's capital, Asmara.

“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,” Mahmood said.

She added that she would not hesitate to introduce further measures against countries that refused to cooperate with the UK on migrant returns.

According to figures from the House of Commons Library, Eritreans accounted for 18 per cent of people arriving in the UK by small boats in the 12 months to June, making them the largest nationality group among the arrivals.

However, Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the University of Oxford's Migration Observatory, said targeting Eritrea was unlikely to have a significant impact on migration.

She explained that most Eritreans who sought asylum in the UK were granted protection, making their removal difficult.

Sumption said about 84 per cent of Eritrean asylum applications were successful at the initial decision stage, with additional applications potentially succeeding on appeal.

Many Eritreans leave their country to escape military conscription, which can last for decades, as well as the country's restrictive political environment.

The UK government has previously threatened visa restrictions against countries that refuse to accept the return of their citizens.

Last year, restrictions were imposed on the Democratic Republic of Congo over cooperation on returns but were later lifted after the government said cooperation had improved. Angola and Namibia also agreed to changes before restrictions were introduced.

Sumption noted that the UK could be reluctant to impose similar measures on countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh because of the potential impact on trade, international students and work visa holders.

Home Office figures show that more than 20,400 people arrived in the UK by small boats from the beginning of the year, representing a 40 per cent decrease compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, more than 40,600 people were returned or deported from the UK between July 2025 and June 2026, an eight per cent increase on the previous year. Fewer than 6,000 of those returned had been convicted of a criminal offence.

The Eritrean embassy in London had been contacted for comment.