UK Threatens Visa Bans on Three African Nations as Government Prepares Major Asylum System Overhaul

The UK government on Monday warned that it will impose visa bans on citizens of Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo unless the three countries agree to take back irregular migrants and convicted offenders whom Britain seeks to deport.

The Home Office said in a statement that the three nations have shown “unacceptably low cooperation” in accepting returns, prompting London to consider suspending the issuance of visas to their nationals. The warning comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood prepares to unveil what the government is calling the most far-reaching reforms to the asylum system in decades.

Immigration has become one of the most polarising issues in British politics, with public frustration fuelling a surge in support for the hard-right Reform UK party. Mahmood’s approach is seen by analysts as an effort to reclaim political ground amid Reform’s rise in opinion polls, which has placed the governing Labour Party under increasing pressure.

The new measures are aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel from France in small boats. Home Office Minister Alex Norris said Angola, Namibia and the DRC had “one month to get this in order,” signalling a hardened stance similar to the travel restrictions once introduced by former US President Donald Trump.

The government also indicated it may introduce an “emergency brake” to restrict visas for countries with high asylum-claim rates, even if their citizens enter the UK legally. Officials say the intention is to discourage abuse of the asylum system and accelerate removals of those who fail to qualify for protection.

New figures show that while asylum applications rose over the past year, the number of initial approvals issued by authorities declined between 2023 and 2024. At the same time, thousands of visas have been granted under special humanitarian schemes for Ukrainians, Afghans and Hong Kong residents.

Planned policies inspired by Denmark’s stringent asylum approach include ending automatic benefits for asylum seekers and tightening conditions for refugees. One proposal would shorten refugee status from five years to 30 months, subjecting individuals to regular reviews and requiring them to return home once their countries are considered safe. The waiting period for permanent residency would extend from five years to 20.

The proposals have drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organisations and a number of Labour lawmakers, who argue that the changes will push vulnerable people into uncertainty. Labour MP Tony Vaughan told the BBC that the plans risk creating “perpetual limbo and alienation,” adding that a humane asylum system should prioritise integration and stability for those granted protection.