The United Kingdom has introduced visa restrictions targeting nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, escalating diplomatic pressure on Kinshasa over its failure to cooperate in the return of migrants who have no legal right to remain in Britain.
Under the new measures, London has suspended priority visa services for Congolese applicants and withdrawn special visa privileges previously extended to senior government officials and diplomatic passport holders. British authorities say the move is intended to prompt stronger cooperation on migrant returns.
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said countries must take responsibility for receiving their citizens when they are ordered to leave the UK. She warned that the government is prepared to impose broader visa bans if progress is not made.
“We expect countries to cooperate when it comes to returning their nationals,” Mahmood said adding that failure to do so would have consequences under Britain’s new immigration enforcement approach.
The visa curbs come as part of a wider strategy by the UK government to tighten migration controls and speed up the removal of people who enter or remain in the country unlawfully. Officials say the policy is also aimed at encouraging bilateral agreements that ensure smoother deportation processes.
British authorities noted that other African countries including Angola and Namibia, avoided similar penalties after agreeing to accept the return of their nationals. The DRC, however, was singled out for what the UK described as insufficient engagement on the issue.
While discussions between London and Kinshasa are ongoing, UK officials say the restrictions will remain in place until tangible progress is made. The move has raised concerns among migration and human rights groups, who warn that visa sanctions could affect ordinary travellers, students, and families rather than political decision-makers.
For now the UK government maintains that visa leverage is a necessary tool to enforce compliance and restore credibility to its migrant return system as pressure mounts domestically to demonstrate firm control over immigration.