Dec 27 – The United Kingdom has secured agreements with Angola and Namibia to accept the return of individuals who are in the UK illegally, including foreign nationals convicted of crimes. The deals follow warnings from the British government that visa restrictions would be imposed on countries that fail to cooperate on migrant returns, the Home Office confirmed late Saturday.
In contrast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has lost access to fast-track UK visa services and special visa privileges previously available to senior officials and decision-makers. The Home Office said the measures were introduced due to the DRC’s failure to meet the UK’s requirements on return cooperation.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that further action could be taken, including a complete suspension of UK visas for DRC nationals, if cooperation does not improve quickly.
“We expect countries to comply with their obligations. If one of their citizens has no legal right to remain in the UK, they must accept their return,” Mahmood said.
The agreements represent the first significant policy outcome under reforms announced last month aimed at making refugee status temporary and accelerating the removal of people who enter the UK unlawfully.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper added that more than 50,000 people with no legal right to remain in the UK have been removed since July last year, marking a 23% increase compared with the previous period. She said UK diplomats have been instructed to prioritise return agreements as part of the government’s migration strategy.
At LawSentis, we closely monitor UK immigration and visa policy changes and explain what they mean in practice for migrants, employers, and families. If you need advice on how enforcement measures, visa restrictions, or return policies could affect your immigration status, our UK-based, IAA-regulated team is here to help.