UK to Impose Visa Bans on Countries Refusing to Take Back Illegal Migrants

UK to Impose Visa Bans on Countries Refusing to Take Back Illegal Migrants

Applications for visas from nations that refuse to repatriate criminals and illegal immigrants will be blocked by the UK. Angola, Namibia, and Congo face the first bans, while India may follow if cooperation doesn’t improve

Significant changes to visas are being planned by the UK government for nations who refuse to return their citizens who are residing in Britain unlawfully. According to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, nations that do not aid in the deportation of illegal immigrants will be subject to "Trump-style visa bans" under new regulations.

Visa Prohibitions Start in Three African Countries
Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the first nations that would be subject to such limitations, according to certain media sources. Until their governments begin assisting with the return of criminals and illegal migrants, their citizens will not be granted UK visas.

The Home Office claims that these countries have demonstrated "unacceptably low cooperation" by requiring migrants to sign their own return forms, which many of them refuse to do, or by delaying paperwork. Thousands of deportation cases have slowed down as a result.

India May Come Next
According to reports, similar visa restrictions may eventually apply to India as well. India may be placed on the UK's warning list for the upcoming year, according to The Times (UK), since it is one of the nations least inclined to receive deported migrants.

Stricter Guidelines for Human Rights Claims
In order to expedite deportations, the UK also intends to strengthen human rights regulations. It seeks to alter judicial interpretations of Article 8, which safeguards private and family life. The only people who are eligible to remain in the UK are those who are close family members, such as parents or children.


Article 3, which shields individuals from cruel treatment, is also undergoing changes. According to the UK, immigrants have applied this provision too widely in order to evade deportation.

Migrants will have to provide all legal reasons at once in order to avoid delays. They have to depart the country right away if their appeal is denied.

New Paths to Employment and Education for Refugees
The UK intends to fight illegal immigration while also establishing new employment and educational opportunities for legitimate migrants. Similar to how the UK sponsored Ukrainian refugees, the UNHCR will refer these people, and British families will host them. Reducing the usage of asylum hotels, which will cost more than £2 billion in 2024–2025, is the aim.

Indians Are Among the Leading Asylum Seekers
5,475 Indians applied for asylum in the UK in the year that ended in June 2025, making them the sixth-largest group by nationality.

By little boat, about 346 Indians entered illegally.
The majority had come here on employment or student visas.
Out of 2,691 petitions, only 20 Indian claimants were awarded refuge.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, and Bangladesh were the most common nations requesting asylum.

What Travelers Should Know About This
Travelers from nations with poor deportation cooperation may face considerably tougher or even stopped UK visa processing. Since other nations might soon be added to the restricted list, anyone applying for a UK visa should stay informed about government developments.