From 15 October 2026, the Home Office will stop giving Eritrean VIPs and government officials preferential visa processing. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has also said she will block all visas for Eritreans unless Eritrea rapidly agrees to take back its nationals who have no right to be in the UK. The Home Office announcement on gov.uk sets out the changes.
What changes from 15 October 2026
- Eritrean VIPs and government officials lose their preferential visa processing.
- Eritrean diplomats cannot travel more than 60 kilometres (37 miles) beyond London without permission from the Foreign Office. The announcement says this mirrors restrictions on British officials in Asmara.
The Home Secretary's warning goes further. If Eritrea does not rapidly agree to the return of its nationals with no right to be in the UK, she will block all visas for Eritreans. Check current waiting times on our visa processing times page.
Why the government is acting
The warning follows Eritrea's sudden withdrawal from returns co-operation earlier in 2026. The Home Office says returns arrangements are vital to removing failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals.
Eritreans were also the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026. The government says it spent months trying to resolve the matter privately, but Eritrea has refused to engage constructively.
What happened with other countries
In her first week in post, the Home Secretary promised visa penalties for countries that refuse to take back their citizens. Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were all threatened. Angola and Namibia agreed enhanced arrangements after the threat last autumn.
The DRC was slower to act, so the Home Secretary imposed visa measures, including restrictions on officials and visas. Those restrictions have been lifted after 6 months of sustained co-operation, with returns flights now running.
A new migration deal with Egypt is also cutting return times. The government says the time to return Egyptian nationals with no right to be in the UK will fall by around 90%, from around 30 weeks to 3 weeks.
Possible total visa shutdown for Eritreans
The Home Secretary says she will block all visas for Eritreans if Eritrea does not rapidly agree to the return of its nationals with no right to be in the UK.
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