UK Imposes Visa Restrictions on Democratic Republic of the Congo Amid Migration Policy Shift

The United Kingdom has announced new visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), citing a lack of cooperation from the Congolese government regarding undocumented migrants and those with criminal records. This decision is part of the UK’s broader strategy to reform its immigration policies and enhance border security.

New Measures and Reactions

The UK Home Office made this announcement late Saturday, indicating that Angola and Namibia have taken steps to assist in the repatriation of their citizens. These agreements represent significant shifts following the recent reforms introduced by Shabana Mahmood, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, aimed at making refugee status more temporary and expediting the deportation process for undocumented individuals arriving in the UK.

As of now, the DRC has lost its fast-track visa services and preferential treatment for important officials due to its non-compliance with the UK’s new cooperation requirements. Mahmood has warned that measures could escalate to a complete visa ban for the DRC if they do not improve their cooperation swiftly.

“We expect countries to play by the rules. If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back,” Mahmood stated.

She expressed gratitude to Angola and Namibia for their collaboration and urged the DRC to comply, emphasizing that their visa privileges could be at stake without cooperation. This move is just the beginning of measures aimed at reinforcing UK border control and speeding up the removal of individuals without legal rights to remain.

Shifts in Asylum Policy

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s center-left administration has recently proposed substantial changes to the UK’s asylum system, intending to curtail protections for refugees and their children. This is part of a broader effort to address the growing frustrations among the public regarding irregular immigration.

To date, over 39,000 individuals, many escaping violence and conflict, have arrived on small boats this year, surpassing the total for the entire previous year but falling short of the records set in 2022. Mahmood has indicated that these reforms, which resemble Denmark’s stringent asylum policies, aim to deter small boat crossings in the English Channel.

Highlighting the perceived chaos in the current system, Mahmood described it as “out of control and unfair,” acknowledging the difficult decisions the government must confront.

Under the new reforms, refugee status will now be temporary, with periodic reviews every 30 months. Refugees may be mandated to return to their home countries once it is deemed safe. Furthermore, the wait time for applying for permanent residency will increase from five to 20 years. The government also plans to enact legislation making it more challenging for irregular migrants and foreign criminals to leverage the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to block deportations.

Growing Criticism and Concerns

Since July of the previous year, the UK has reportedly removed over 50,000 individuals lacking the right to remain, marking a 23% increase compared to earlier periods. Meanwhile, diplomats have been instructed to prioritize returns. However, these measures have faced backlash. Critics, including former Foreign Office advisor Mark Davies, have labeled the policy “shameful” and a betrayal of Britain’s historical commitment to aid refugees. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also condemned the measures as “draconian,” suggesting they cater to far-right agendas across Europe while undermining the UN Convention on Human Rights.

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, has called on the government to reconsider these plans, insisting that they are unlikely to deter crossings and that hardworking refugees should have the opportunity to establish settled lives. Data indicates that asylum claims in the UK reached a record high, with approximately 111,000 applications logged in the year ending June 2025; however, the number of initial approvals has declined.

Most asylum seekers and refugees enter the UK through legal channels. Although net migration peaked at 906,000 in the year to June 2023, it subsequently fell to 431,000 in 2024, partially reflecting the tighter regulations implemented by the government.