Featured image: A burgundy passport lies on a concrete surface. AI-generated image; not a photograph of the reported event.
The UK has announced new restrictions on Eritreans entering the country. The ban will apply unless Eritrea agrees to return small boat migrants and foreign nationals with no legal right to be in the UK. Source: bbc.co.uk.
What Happened
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK would not hesitate to impose further penalties on countries that refuse to co-operate with return policies.
From Thursday, Eritrean diplomats are banned from leaving London without permission. They cannot travel more than 60km outside the capital.
Fast-track visas for high-ranking officials are also suspended.
Background: The Return Policy
Since the start of this year, over 20,400 people have arrived in the UK by small boats. That’s a 40% drop from the same period last year.
From July 2025 to June this year, more than 40,600 people were returned or deported. That’s an 8% increase compared to the previous year.
Of those returned, less than 6,000 have been convicted of a criminal offence.
Why the UK Took Action
Eritrea has repeatedly refused to accept returns of individuals without legal right to be in the UK.
UK officials accuse Eritrean authorities of abruptly withdrawing cooperation earlier this year.
House of Commons Library data shows Eritreans made up 18% of small boat arrivals in the 12 months to June — the most common nationality among such arrivals.
How the Policy Works
Under the UK’s asylum system, visa penalties apply to countries that fail to return people illegally in the UK.
These penalties include an ’emergency brake’ on visas for countries with high asylum claims.
The brake stops visa access until those countries return citizens illegally in the UK.
Previous Actions and Outcomes
Restrictions were announced against the DRC last year. They have since been lifted after improved cooperation on returns.
Angola and Namibia agreed to changes before restrictions were introduced.
What to Watch Next
The Eritrean embassy in London has been contacted for comment.
Eritrea has not issued a public response to the UK’s action.
The UK has not confirmed whether the ban will be enforced or remain under review.
These measures show the UK’s broader effort to hold countries accountable for returning migrants and asylum seekers.
For more on UK migration policy, see the original report.
