The UK government is threatening to impose a complete visa ban on Eritrean nationals unless Eritrea cooperates with the return of migrants who have no legal right to remain in Britain, including convicted criminals.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood outlined the threat in an interview with the Telegraph, citing Eritrea's refusal to accept the return of its citizens.
Mahmood also warned that other countries could face similar restrictions if they refuse to cooperate with British deportation efforts.
According to the Telegraph, Eritrean diplomats in the UK have already lost access to fast-track visa services and face restrictions on travel outside London without permission from the Foreign Office.
Mahmood said Eritrea had repeatedly been given opportunities to cooperate with the return of its nationals.
She contrasted the country's position with that of other governments that have agreed to work with the UK on migrant removals.
"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," said Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary.
The proposed measure would extend pressure on Eritrea by restricting entry for its citizens.
Mahmood said the government was prepared to apply further measures against countries that continued to reject requests to accept their nationals.
"My message to the Eritrean government is simple: take back your nationals or face a complete ban on your citizens entering the UK," said Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary.
The Home Secretary also indicated that the government could expand its approach to other countries that do not cooperate with returns.
"I will not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to cooperate," said Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary.
Earlier Actions and Migrant Figures
The threat follows similar action against Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2025.
After the UK warned of visa restrictions, Angola and Namibia agreed to cooperate with migrant returns, while the Democratic Republic of Congo reached an agreement with Britain in February after preferential visa arrangements were withdrawn and fast-track visas for its nationals were revoked.
The Home Office said agreements with the three countries could allow more than 3,000 nationals to be removed from the UK.
The measures formed part of a broader government effort to secure cooperation from countries whose citizens are subject to removal decisions.
In March, ministers introduced an emergency suspension of study visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan.
Work visas for Afghan nationals were also suspended after Mahmood accused people from the affected countries of exploiting Britain's generosity to claim asylum.
Government figures show that 6,952 Eritrean asylum seekers arrived in the UK in the year to June 2026.
Eritrea recorded the second-highest number of arrivals by nationality, behind Pakistan, and the total included 5,875 people who crossed the Channel in small boats.
The figures also show that 84% of Eritrean asylum claims were approved, giving the country the second-highest approval rate among nationalities in the reported data.
Sudan ranked first, with an approval rate of 92%.
