Angola, Namibia and DRC agree to cooperate with UK on returns after visa threat

The Home Office announced on 6 February 2026 that Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are cooperating on returns of nationals with no right to remain in the UK.

The Home Office says Namibia and Angola agreed to cooperate on returns a month after the Home Secretary threatened visa penalties. It says cooperation from the DRC followed "just weeks" after the Home Secretary removed preferential visa treatment from VIPs and decision makers and revoked fast-track visa processing services for all nationals.

According to the announcement, cooperation was secured within 3 months and flights are already off the ground. The Home Office presents this as delivery of reforms the Home Secretary set out in November.

The Home Office states that over 3,000 nationals from the three countries could be eligible due to the cooperation received. It also gives a figure of 58,500 people removed or deported since the government came into power, which it describes as an all-time high for removals of people with no right to be in the UK.

The announcement says other countries are still not taking back their nationals who have no right to remain in the UK. The Home Secretary says countries that refuse to work with the UK on returns cannot expect a normal visa relationship. The Home Office says further threats are expected where countries are not cooperating.

The announcement describes the approach as more transactional, with the UK's dealings with a country depending on its cooperation on returns. It does not set out new visa rules, fees, forms or dates.

Sources

• Three countries to take back illegal migrants after visa threat, GOV.UK, 6 February 2026