Key facts
- UK threatens complete ban on Eritrean citizens entering the country.
- Eritrea has refused to cooperate with the UK on returning its nationals.
- Eritreans were the most common nationality arriving by small boat in the year ending June 2026.
- Fewer than 4% of Eritrean asylum seekers with rejected claims have been deported in the past four years.
The UK is threatening to impose a complete ban on Eritrean citizens entering the country unless Eritrea agrees to accept more rejected asylum seekers and criminals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that fast-track visa access for Eritrean officials has already been removed due to the country's refusal to cooperate with returns.
Mahmood warned that Eritrea has had ample opportunity to accept the return of its nationals and has refused, unlike other countries. She indicated that further measures would be imposed on countries refusing to cooperate with returns.
This action follows similar threats made against Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which resulted in cooperation or visa restrictions. In March, the UK also halted study and work visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan.